Subsequent to Māori settlement in the 13th century and the off-and-on settlement of northern hemisphere whaling and sealing sailors in the early 19th century, New Plymouth first experienced organised European settlement in the early 1840s. European expansion, out from New Plymouth, was prevented by the local tribes' opposition to selling their land and, later, to a strong identification with the King Movement.

As a result of dubious land trading at Waitara there was much fighting in the New Zealand land wars of the 1860s, with thousands of British imperial troops being called in to attempt to pacify the area.

The present main highway follows the path taken by the British as they marched from Patea to New Plymouth.

Following the withdrawal of the British troops Māori resistance continued, with Titokowaru leading an uprising that achieved notable successes against the colonial forces in the south Taranaki region. Titokowaru advanced, southward, almost to Wanganui while defeating three colonial forces and causing much alarm among the settlers.

Titokowaru's vigorous military response can be contrasted with Te Whiti o Rongomai's peaceful opposition centred in Parihaka. However, Te Whiti's peaceful community was brutally suppressed by colonial troops on 5 November 1881.

The result of Māori opposition to illegal settlement of their land was a series of illegal government land confiscations. The release of a Waitangi Tribunal report on the situation led to some debate on the matter in 2002. The authors of the report compared the suppression of Taranaki Māori to the Holocaust. This controversial choice of language met general disapproval with one government minister being forced to resign for trying to defend it.