Provincial Politics
Atkinson was first involved in politics when he became a member of the Taranaki provincial council. Of particular interest to him was policy regarding Māori-owned land, which he wished to see taken over by the British settlers. Continued Māori ownership, he believed, prevented economic development for the colony. Atkinson and his Richmond relations considered the Māori to be "savages", and believed that war was a reasonable option for ensuring Māori co-operation with British land acquisition.
When fighting broke out in Taranaki between Māori and the settlers, Atkinson helped to organise a number of volunteer units to fight the Māori. He himself fought in a number of battles. The importance of Atkinson's contribution is debated, but his endeavours earned him respect from like-minded politicians.
Read more about this topic: Harry Atkinson
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