"A proclamation dated 11 July, 1863 declared that
Maori who did not take the oath of allegiance
would lose their lands; government forces crossed
the Mangatawhiri River (the Kiingitanga boundary)
and fought the first battle before its text had been
seen in Waikato"
"The Government made no real attempt to
negotiate, merely issuing proclamations in
June 1861 and July 1863 demanding submission.
At Taupiri in January 1863, in a pronouncement
that reverberated throughout the movement,
Grey threatened to dig around the Kiingitanga
until it fell."
-- John Gorst