In 1846, the British Government issued a self-governing charter to the colony and instructed that all Maori land ownership be registered. Any lands deemed to be unused were to become Crown land. Crown agents developed a range of frequently dubious practices to persuade Maori to sell, and the Crown monopoly meant that they could offer whatever the Government was prepared to pay, not a market rate. Maori criticised a system that did not allow them to lease out their own land or receive market prices, while many Pakeha wished to purchase directly. 

In the first year that the Pakeha population exceeded that of Maori in New Zealand, the first Maori king was chosen.  Around him grew the Kingite movement, supported by Maori from Hauraki to Horowhenua. The Kingitanga was not universally welcomed among Maori, though, with many chiefs refusing to put their mana under that of someone else. 

In March 1860. The Government, wishing to show its freedom to act, insisted on dealing with a minor chief over a small block at Waitara against the direct opposition of a senior chief, Wiremu Kingi, and most of the local people who were actually living on the block.