This was particularly the case in Wellington which, as a New Zealand Company settlement, briefly had its own independent governing council, until Governor Hobson sent his Colonial Secretary, Willoughby Shortland, and some soldiers to Port Nicholson to end any challenge to British sovereignty (the colonists had set up a "colonial council", which Hobson described as a "republic", in March 1840 headed by William Wakefield).
This was particularly true in Wellington, where the New Zealand Company settlement briefly enjoyed self-governance before Governor Hobson sent his Colonial Secretary and soldiers to Port Nicholson to suppress any opposition to British dominance (the colonists had established a "colonial council" that Hobson saw as a challenge to British authority, which he described as a "republic", in March 1840 headed by William Wakefield).