The Wanganui Campaign was centered on the settlement that eventually became the city of Wanganui, New Zealand, which was established in 1841. By 1846 it had some two hundred European settlers. Following the conflict in the north, known as the Flagstaff War and the recent and nearby Hutt Valley Campaign, they felt increasingly isolated and insecure. They were seriously outnumbered by the local Māori, some of whom were known to have participated in the Hutt Valley fighting, the most notable of these being Te Mamaku, their leader. The Māori had already been angered by the aftermath of the recent campaign as some of the tribe had been captured and put on trial for rebellion. One had been hanged and several sent to jail for long terms. The Government knew that sending troops to the area was lia