What is "moremonui"

Moremonui is a location in the Northland Region of New Zealand, south of Maunganui Bluff. It is known principally as the site of a Māori battle fought in either 1807 or 1808 between the Kaipara branches of the Ngāti Whātua iwi, Te Roroa and Te-Uri-o-Hau, on one side and the Ngāpuhi iwi on the other. The Ngāti Whātua forces were led by Tāoho, rangatira (chief) of the local Te Roroa, and Murupaenga, rangatira of the Ngāti Rongo subtribe of Ngāti Whātua, and Ngāpuhi were led by their rangatira Pokaia. The battle is known as Moremonui, Moremunui or Te Kai a te Karoro (The Seagulls' Feast).

Moremonui is notable as the first occasion Māori used muskets in warfare. The first European settlement had recently been founded at Kororareka in Ngāpuhi territory, enabling that iwi to become the first to use Western weapons.

The outcome of the battle did not follow technological advantage. While reloading, Ngāpuhi were overrun by the defenders' counterattack, their chief Pokaia being killed. It has been claimed that up to a thousand warriors died, the majority Ngāpuhi hunted down after their ranks broke. Future Ngāpuhi war leaders Kawiti and Hongi Hika escaped due to Tāoho's restraint in stopping further pursuit. Tāoho literally drew a line in the sand, beyond which Ngāpuhi were not to be killed.

Although only a small number of firearms were used, Moremonui could reasonably be called the first battle of the Musket Wars, as a thirst for utu (justice through revenge) motivated Hongi Hika's campaigns against the Ngāti Whātua over the next twenty years.