Despite Te Whiti's tolerance towards the settlers the British tried to eliminate Parihaka. The NZ government demonstrated an abuse of power by confiscating land without justification or reason and the legislation West Coast Settlement Act which led to Maori imprisonment in the South island. The government used the power of law to control and defeat the people of Parihaka and assert their authority. From a historians point of view the invasion of Parihaka was the pinnacle of a series of multiple events where the British government abused their power. For example surveyors and fencers were sent to Parihaka to survey the land in order to threaten the people of Parihaka that their land would be taken from them.
Under the Treaty of Waitangi the British were supposed to be equal partners with Maori. This treaty was signed in trust, their was no way Maori chiefs would have signed if they were to end up losing Maori land and chiefly powers. The Treaty had three articles:
that the Queen (or king) of Great Britain has the right to rule over New Zealand;
that Maori chiefs would keep their land and their chieftainships, and would agree to sell their land only to the British monarch; and
that all Maori would have the same rights as British subjects.
The British abused their power and broke the treaty as article two and three were clearly broken. Maori land was confiscated by the British without choice and arrested without trial if they refused the confiscation. Article three was also broken as Maori certainly did not have the same rights as British subjects as they would never have been arrested without a fair trial which is what happened to Tohu and Te Whiti and their followers. The Whiti instructed: 'Go put your hands to the plough, look not back. If anyone come with guns and swords, be not afraid, if they smite you, smite not in return. If they rent you, be not discouraged - another will take up the good work.' Another problem with the treaty was a loss in translation and interpretation, particularly between the two English and Maori words 'sovereignty' and 'Kaitiaki' Sovereignty means: supreme power or authority and Kaitiaki is the Māori concept of guardianship. Maori thought the wueen was going to be a caretaker and look after New Zealand and the British signed to have full control of the country. Two completely different ideas about the role and power of the queen and the treaty.