The First Taranaki War is an armed conflict over land ownership and sovereignty that takes place between Māori and the New Zealand Government in the Taranaki district of New Zealand's North Island from March 1860 to March 1861.

The war is fought by more than 3500 imperial troops brought in from Australia, as well as volunteer soldiers and militia, against Māori forces that fluctuate between a few hundred and about 1500.

Total losses among the imperial, volunteer and militia troops are estimated to have been 238, while Māori casualties total about 200, although the proportion of Māori casualties is higher.The war ends in a ceasefire, with neither side explicitly accepting the peace terms of the other.