List of massacres in New Zealand
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:09:41 PM Wikipedia source
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.
Tables
· List
2023 Auckland shootingLower Queen Street in February 2023. One Queen Street is under construction in the centre, with the ferry terminal beyond it. Britomart station is at near right.
2023 Auckland shootingLower Queen Street in February 2023. One Queen Street is under construction in the centre, with the ferry terminal beyond it. Britomart station is at near right.
Name
2023 Auckland shootingLower Queen Street in February 2023. One Queen Street is under construction in the centre, with the ferry terminal beyond it. Britomart station is at near right.
Date
20 Jul 2023
Location
Downtown Britomart Terminal, Auckland
Deaths
3
Method
Pump-action shotgun
Notes
Shooter among dead
Christchurch mosque shootingsChristchurch Mosque (Al Noor Mosque (Arabic: مسجد النور, Masjid al-Noor)), Christchurch, New Zealand.
Christchurch mosque shootingsChristchurch Mosque (Al Noor Mosque (Arabic: مسجد النور, Masjid al-Noor)), Christchurch, New Zealand.
Name
Christchurch mosque shootingsChristchurch Mosque (Al Noor Mosque (Arabic: مسجد النور, Masjid al-Noor)), Christchurch, New Zealand.
Date
15 Mar 2019
Location
Christchurch, Canterbury
Deaths
51
Method
Semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, lever-action rifle, bolt-action rifle
Notes
51 killed and 40 injured. Occurred at two mosques in Christchurch: Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. Australian-born perpetrator Brenton Harrison Tarrant pleaded guilty to murder and engaging in a terrorist act, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
Raurimu massacre
Raurimu massacre
Name
Raurimu massacre
Date
8 Feb 1997
Location
Raurimu, King Country
Deaths
6
Method
Firearm (sawn off single-barrelled shotgun)
Notes
Also 4 wounded. Stephen Anderson found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.
New Empire Hotel arson
New Empire Hotel arson
Name
New Empire Hotel arson
Date
4 Feb 1995
Location
Hamilton
Deaths
6
Method
Fire
Notes
Alan Wayne Lory convicted of manslaughter.
Bain family murdersMemorial to the Cullen Bain family in Mosgiel.
Bain family murdersMemorial to the Cullen Bain family in Mosgiel.
Name
Bain family murdersMemorial to the Cullen Bain family in Mosgiel.
Date
20 Jun 1994
Location
Dunedin
Deaths
5
Method
Firearm ( semi-auto)
Notes
David Bain convicted, but acquitted in a re-trial.
Ratima family murders
Ratima family murders
Name
Ratima family murders
Date
26 Jun 1992
Location
Masterton
Deaths
7
Method
Hammer, knife
Notes
Raymond Wahia Ratima convicted of murder.
Schlaepfer family murders
Schlaepfer family murders
Name
Schlaepfer family murders
Date
20 May 1992
Location
Paerata, Auckland Region
Deaths
7
Notes
Shooter (Brian Schlaepfer) among dead.
Aramoana massacre
Aramoana massacre
Name
Aramoana massacre
Date
13–14 Nov 1990
Location
Aramoana, Otago
Deaths
14
Method
Firearm (scoped semi-automatic rifle)
Notes
3 (unofficially 4) injuries. Shooter (David Gray) among dead.
Bassett Road machine gun murders
Bassett Road machine gun murders
Name
Bassett Road machine gun murders
Date
7 Dec 1963
Location
Auckland
Deaths
2
Noema Rika murders
Noema Rika murders
Name
Noema Rika murders
Date
27 May 1951
Location
Ōtaki, Kāpiti Coast
Deaths
5
Notes
Shooter (Rika) among dead
Featherston prisoner of war camp strike
Featherston prisoner of war camp strike
Name
Featherston prisoner of war camp strike
Date
25 Feb 1943
Location
Featherston, Wairarapa
Deaths
49
Notes
80 wounded
1941 Kowhitirangi shootings
1941 Kowhitirangi shootings
Name
1941 Kowhitirangi shootings
Date
8–20 Oct 1941
Location
Kowhitirangi, West Coast
Deaths
8
Notes
Shooter (Stanley Graham) among dead
Henare Hona murders [Family Murders plus policeman.]
Henare Hona murders [Family Murders plus policeman.]
Name
Henare Hona murders [Family Murders plus policeman.]
Date
21 Oct 1934
Location
Morrinsville, Waikato
Deaths
6
Notes
Shooter (Hona) among dead
Himatangi massacre
Himatangi massacre
Name
Himatangi massacre
Date
6 Sep 1929
Location
Himatangi, Manawatu
Deaths
8
Notes
Unsolved shooting and arson, possibly murder/suicide
Waikino schoolhouse shooting
Waikino schoolhouse shooting
Name
Waikino schoolhouse shooting
Date
19 Oct 1923
Location
Waikino, near Waihi
Deaths
2
Method
Firearm ( pistol), also armed with 3 sticks of gelignite (not used)
Notes
Also 6 others wounded. Local farmer John Christopher Higgins sought revenge over alleged persecution
Invercargill Tragedy [Baxter Family Murders]
Invercargill Tragedy [Baxter Family Murders]
Name
Invercargill Tragedy [Baxter Family Murders]
Date
8 Apr 1908
Location
Invercargill
Deaths
7
Method
Stove scraper, firearm
Notes
Killer (James Reid Baxter) among dead
Maungatapu murders
Maungatapu murders
Name
Maungatapu murders
Date
21 Feb 1866
Location
Maungatapu, Tasman
Deaths
5
Notes
Three members of a gang led by Richard Burgess were hanged for the murders
Finnigan family murders
Finnigan family murders
Name
Finnigan family murders
Date
Sep 1865
Location
Otahuhu, Auckland
Deaths
4 or 5
Notes
Also spelt Finnegan in contemporary sources. James Stack was convicted and hanged in April 1866
Maketū Wharetōtara murders
Maketū Wharetōtara murders
Name
Maketū Wharetōtara murders
Date
1841
Location
Kororareka, Northland
Deaths
5
Notes
Maketū Wharetōtara, also known as Wiremu Kīngi Maketū, became the first person officially executed in New Zealand (7 March 1842)
Invasion of the Chatham Islands and Moriori genocide
Invasion of the Chatham Islands and Moriori genocide
Name
Invasion of the Chatham Islands and Moriori genocide
Date
Nov 1835
Location
Chatham Islands
Deaths
2000
Method
Part of the Musket Wars
Notes
The Moriori genocide was the systematic mass murder, ethnic cleansing, enslavement and cultural annihilation of the Moriori people, the indigenous ethnic group of the Chatham Islands (Rēkohu), by invaders from the mainland New Zealand iwi of Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga, from November 1835 for a disputed time onward.
Siege of Pukerangiora
Siege of Pukerangiora
Name
Siege of Pukerangiora
Date
Nov 1831
Location
Waitara River, Taranaki
Deaths
1200
Method
Part of the Musket Wars
Boyd massacre
Boyd massacre
Name
Boyd massacre
Date
Dec 1809
Location
Whangaroa Harbour, Northland
Deaths
66
Reprisal attacks following death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Reprisal attacks following death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Name
Reprisal attacks following death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Date
13 Jun 1772 to July 1772
Location
Bay of Islands, Northland
Deaths
250
Death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Name
Death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne
Date
12 Jun 1772
Location
Bay of Islands, Northland
Deaths
26
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Method | Notes |
| 2023 Auckland shootingLower Queen Street in February 2023. One Queen Street is under construction in the centre, with the ferry terminal beyond it. Britomart station is at near right. | 20 Jul 2023 | Downtown Britomart Terminal, Auckland | 3 | Pump-action shotgun | Shooter among dead |
| Christchurch mosque shootingsChristchurch Mosque (Al Noor Mosque (Arabic: مسجد النور, Masjid al-Noor)), Christchurch, New Zealand. | 15 Mar 2019 | Christchurch, Canterbury | 51 | Semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, lever-action rifle, bolt-action rifle | 51 killed and 40 injured. Occurred at two mosques in Christchurch: Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. Australian-born perpetrator Brenton Harrison Tarrant pleaded guilty to murder and engaging in a terrorist act, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. |
| Raurimu massacre | 8 Feb 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 Feb 1995 | Hamilton | 6 | Fire | Alan Wayne Lory convicted of manslaughter. |
| Bain family murdersMemorial to the Cullen Bain family in Mosgiel. | 20 Jun 1994 | Dunedin | 5 | Firearm ( semi-auto) | David Bain convicted, but acquitted in a re-trial. |
| Ratima family murders | 26 Jun 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 Nov 1990 | Aramoana, Otago | 14 | Firearm (scoped semi-automatic rifle) | 3 (unofficially 4) injuries. Shooter (David Gray) among dead. |
| Bassett Road machine gun murders | 7 Dec 1963 | Auckland | 2 | ||
| Noema Rika murders | 27 May 1951 | Ōtaki, Kāpiti Coast | 5 | Shooter (Rika) among dead | |
| Featherston prisoner of war camp strike | 25 Feb 1943 | Featherston, Wairarapa | 49 | 80 wounded | |
| 1941 Kowhitirangi shootings | 8–20 Oct 1941 | Kowhitirangi, West Coast | 8 | Shooter (Stanley Graham) among dead | |
| Henare Hona murders [Family Murders plus policeman.] | 21 Oct 1934 | Morrinsville, Waikato | 6 | Shooter (Hona) among dead | |
| Himatangi massacre | 6 Sep 1929 | Himatangi, Manawatu | 8 | Unsolved shooting and arson, possibly murder/suicide | |
| Waikino schoolhouse shooting | 19 Oct 1923 | Waikino, near Waihi | 2 | Firearm ( pistol), also armed with 3 sticks of gelignite (not used) | Also 6 others wounded. Local farmer John Christopher Higgins sought revenge over alleged persecution |
| Invercargill Tragedy [Baxter Family Murders] | 8 Apr 1908 | Invercargill | 7 | Stove scraper, firearm | Killer (James Reid Baxter) among dead |
| Maungatapu murders | 21 Feb 1866 | Maungatapu, Tasman | 5 | Three members of a gang led by Richard Burgess were hanged for the murders | |
| Finnigan family murders | Sep 1865 | Otahuhu, Auckland | 4 or 5 | Also spelt Finnegan in contemporary sources. James Stack was convicted 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) | |
| Invasion of the Chatham Islands and Moriori genocide | Nov 1835 | Chatham Islands | 2000 | Part of the Musket Wars | The Moriori genocide was the systematic mass murder, ethnic cleansing, enslavement and cultural annihilation of the Moriori people, the indigenous ethnic group of the Chatham Islands (Rēkohu), by invaders from the mainland New Zealand iwi of Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Mutunga, from November 1835 for a disputed time onward. |
| Siege of Pukerangiora | Nov 1831 | Waitara River, Taranaki | 1200 | Part of the Musket Wars | |
| Boyd massacre | Dec 1809 | Whangaroa Harbour, Northland | 66 | ||
| Reprisal attacks following death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne | 13 Jun 1772 to July 1772 | Bay of Islands, Northland | 250 | ||
| Death of Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne | 12 Jun 1772 | Bay of Islands, Northland | 26 |
· Massacres during the New Zealand Wars
Opepe Massacre
Opepe Massacre
Name
Opepe Massacre
Date
7 June 1869
Location
Taupo
Deaths
9
Notes
Part of Te Kooti's War
Mohaka massacre
Mohaka massacre
Name
Mohaka massacre
Date
10 April 1869
Location
Mohaka, Hawke's Bay
Deaths
68
Notes
Part of Te Kooti's War
Pukearuhe massacre
Pukearuhe massacre
Name
Pukearuhe massacre
Date
13 February 1869
Location
Pukearuhe, Taranaki
Deaths
8
Notes
Attack on Pukearuhe Redoubt by a Ngāti Maniapoto war party
Ngatapa massacre
Ngatapa massacre
Name
Ngatapa massacre
Date
5 January 1869
Location
Ngatapa, Gisborne
Deaths
120
Notes
Part of Te Kooti's War
Poverty Bay massacre
Poverty Bay massacre
Name
Poverty Bay massacre
Date
10 November 1868
Location
Poverty Bay, Gisborne
Deaths
54
Notes
Part of Te Kooti's War
Rangiaowhia massacre
Rangiaowhia massacre
Name
Rangiaowhia massacre
Date
21 February 1864
Location
Rangiaowhia, Waikato
Deaths
11
Notes
Part of the Waikato War
Gilfillan family killings
Gilfillan family killings
Name
Gilfillan family killings
Date
18 April 1847
Location
Wanganui
Deaths
4
Notes
An act of utu (revenge) for the killing of a Māori chieftain during the Wanganui Campaign
Wairau Affray
Wairau Affray
Name
Wairau Affray
Date
17 June 1843
Location
Tuamarina, Marlborough
Deaths
26
Notes
8 wounded
| Name | Date | Location | Deaths | Notes |
| Opepe Massacre | 7 June 1869 | Taupo | 9 | Part of Te Kooti's War |
| 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 |
References
- Radio New Zealandhttps://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/384791/deadly-christchurch-mosque-shootings-49-dead-after-well-planned-attack
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/mar/15/christchurch-shooting-injuries-reported-as-police-respond-to-critical-incident-live?page=with%3Ablock-5c8b70e1e4b016d23425c541
- Radio New Zealandhttps://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/384896/police-with-the-latest-information-on-the-mosque-shootings
- The New Zealand Heraldhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11788645
- crimehttp://www.crime.co.nz/c-files.aspx?ID=302
- Stuff (company)http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/latest-edition/3179255/Killer-out-for-Christmas
- Stuff (company)https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/97758713/four-more-years-for-notorious-mass-murderer-raymond-ratima
- The New Zealand Heraldhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/masterton-mass-murderer-raymond-ratima-takes-parole-board-to-court-claims-potential-bias-as-repeatedly-denied-release/AHHXVVTQJZDKJHEH3PKBAI5OMM/
- The New Zealand Heraldhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10440545
- "David Gray kills 13 at Aramoana, 13 September 1990," New Zealand History,https://nzhistory.govt.nz/david-gray-kills-13-aramoana
- "The day Chicago came to Auckland"http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11167685
- "Auckland police shooting 'brought it all back' for fallen officer's family"https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300038993/auckland-police-shooting-brought-it-all-back-for-fallen-officers-family
- "The Otaki murders - 27 May 1951 - 5 people killed"https://www.facebook.com/photosoldwellingtonregion/photos/a.748565365231737/1546127732142159/?type=3
- "Himatangi murders"https://teara.govt.nz/en/manawatu-and-horowhenua-places/page-8
- Stuff (company)https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/109153685/revisiting-a-dark-day-new-zealands-first-mass-school-shooting
- Stuff (company)http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8112416/Murder-in-a-small-Kiwi-school
- crimehttp://www.crime.co.nz/
- "An early tragedy", Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 22 April 2009. Retrieved 5 October 2015.https://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/trials-notable
- Oliver, S. "Maketu Wiremu Kingi", Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 30 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2015.https://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1m5/maketu-wiremu-kingi
- NZETChttp://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-SmiHist-t1-body1-d18-d8.html