The Wairau Affray marked the first significant armed conflict between Māori and British settlers in New Zealand, taking place in 1843. The conflict arose primarily from tensions surrounding land ownership disputes. The area, known for its rich resources, had become a focal point for British settlement, prompting incoming settlers and surveyors, particularly a team led by Thomas Wakefield, to assert claims over various tracts of land. These claims were often viewed with suspicion and resistance by the Māori, who had their own established connections to the land.

As Wakefield's surveying party began their work in the Wairau Valley, they were confronted by local Māori who objected to the presence of the British and the legitimacy of their land claims. A heated argument ensued, and the situation rapidly deteriorated into violence. Armed Māori tribes engaged with the settlers, resulting in a bloody skirmish that led to the deaths of both Māori and British individuals.

The outcome of the Wairau Affray revealed the deepening rifts between the Māori population and the increasing number of European settlers. It set a precedent for future confrontations over land and autonomy in New Zealand. Subsequently, this conflict catalyzed the escalation of hostilities in the broader context of the New Zealand Wars, where disputes over land rights would repeatedly incite violence and resistance against colonial authority.