List of massacres in New Zealand

The following is a list of events that have been called massacres that have occurred in New Zealand (numbers may be approximate). Massacres considered part of the campaigns of the New Zealand Wars are listed separately.

List

Name	Date	Location	Deaths	Method	Notes
Christchurch mosque shootings	15 March 2019	Christchurch, Canterbury	49	Firearms	50 confirmed dead, 40 or more injured. Occurred at two mosques in Christchurch. Two IEDs in a car were confirmed to have been found by Police Commissioner Mike Bush. Four people were arrested, three of interest. Followed by bomb scares throughout country.
Raurimu massacre	8 February 1997	Raurimu, King Country	6	Firearm (sawn off single-barrelled shotgun)	Also 4 wounded. Stephen Anderson found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
New Empire Hotel arson	4 February 1995	Hamilton	6	Fire	Alan Wayne Lory convicted of manslaughter.
Bain family murders	20 June 1994	Dunedin	5	Firearm (.22lr semi-auto)	David Bain convicted, but acquitted in a re-trial. If David Bain was not the killer, evidence would suggest that the most likely culprit was Robin Bain (one of the dead).
Ratima family murders	26 June 1992	Masterton	7	Hammer, knife	Raymond Wahia Ratima convicted of murder.
Schlaepfer family murders	20 May 1992	Paerata, Auckland Region	7		Shooter (Brian Schlaepfer) among dead.
Aramoana massacre	13–14 November 1990	Aramoana, Otago	14		3 (unofficially 4) injuries. Shooter (David Gray) among dead.
Noema Rika murders	27 May 1951	Otaki, Kapiti Coast	5		Shooter (Rika) among dead
Featherston prisoner of war camp riot	25 February 1943	Featherston, Wairarapa	49		80 wounded
1941 Kowhitirangi shootings	8–20 October 1941	Kowhitirangi, West Coast	8		Shooter (Stanley Graham) among dead
Henare Hona murders	21 October 1934	Morrinsville, Waikato	6		Shooter (Hona) among dead
Himatangi tragedy	6 September 1929	Himatangi, Manawatu	7		Unsolved shooting and arson, possibly murder/suicide
Waikino schoolhouse shooting	19 October 1923	Waikino, near Waihi	2	Firearm (.32-cal pistol), also armed with 3 sticks of gelignite (not used)	Local farmer John Christopher Higgins sought revenge over alleged persecution
Maungatapu murders	21 February 1866	Maungatapu, Tasman	5		Three members of a gang led by Richard Burgess were hanged for the murders
Finnigan family murders	September 1865	Otahuhu, Auckland	4 or 5		also spelt Finnegan in contemporary sources. James Stack was convicted for the crime and hanged in April 1866
Maketū Wharetōtara murders	1841	Kororareka, Northland	5		Maketū Wharetōtara, also known as Wiremu Kīngi Maketū, became the first person officially executed in New Zealand (7 March 1842)
Boyd massacre	December 1809	Whangaroa Harbour, Northland	66
Revenge attacks following death of Marion du Fresne	13 June 1772–July 1772	Bay of Islands, Northland	250
Death of Marion du Fresne	12 June 1772	Bay of Islands, Northland	26

Massacres during the New Zealand Wars

The following is a list of events that have been called massacres that occurred as part of the New Zealand Wars (numbers may be approximate):

Name	Date	Location	Deaths	Notes
Mohaka massacre	10 April 1869	Mohaka, Hawke's Bay	68	Part of Te Kooti's War
Pukearuhe massacre	13 February 1869	Pukearuhe, Taranaki	8	Attack on Pukearuhe Redoubt by a Ngāti Maniapoto war party
Ngatapa massacre	5 January 1869	Ngatapa, Gisborne	120	Part of Te Kooti's War
Poverty Bay massacre	10 November 1868	Poverty Bay, Gisborne	54	Part of Te Kooti's War
Rangiaowhia massacre	21 February 1864	Rangiaowhia, Waikato	11	Part of the Waikato War
Gilfillan family killings	18 April 1847	Wanganui	4	An act of utu (revenge) for the killing of a Māori chieftain during the Wanganui Campaign
Wairau Affray	17 June 1843	Tuamarina, Marlborough	26	8 wounded
Invasion of the Chatham Islands	November 1835	Chatham Islands	2000	Part of the Musket Wars
Siege of Pukerangiora	November 1831	Waitara River, Taranaki	1200	Part of the Musket Wars