The majorities were attacked by the British army in New Zealand, starting the first Taranaki war. Faced with British racism and land theft, the majorities wanted to protect a farm for Waitara. The British took 3,500 imperial soldiers from Australia and it is estimated that they fought some 800 maors. There were 200 deaths on each side and although the British said they won the war, they did not, because they did not achieve sovereignty over the lands of the majorities. In the following years there were more wars between settlers and majorities.