When King Tawhaio came into position there was still hostiles sounding land purchases in Taranaki spread, erupting into a seres of conflicts that became known as the New Zealand Wars. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_King_Movement
Taranaki War: 1860-63
Initially after the Kingitanga was claimed by King Potatau, there had been little change in regards to the objective of the movement i.e. land settlement issues and the unification of the maori tribes. This was not the fault of the Movement as it took time for change to progress. However, as one of Potatau's first act's as King, he had set boundaries separating his authority from that of the British Crown. The Crown of course saw the movement as a 'rebellion' against them and therefore kept opting for new land. It was their attempt at purchasing land near the mouth of the Waitara River in North Taranaki in 1859 from minor Ati Awa Chief who was not entitled to sell the land that caused Wiremu Kingi (Māori Chief of the Te Āti Awa Tribe) to oppose the Crown and therefore led into war in March 1860. The war progressed till 1863.
Historian, Michael King, says that '...Many settlers began to voice the opinion that only war could erase Maori disloyalty and open up land for further settlement... War did indeed break out. Fighting began in Taranaki where government officers had bought land from a minor...'
"The outbreak of war in Taranaki in 1860 made war in Waikato seem inevitable, at least to Europeans. Apart from a few lonely voices, Pakeha persisted in seeing the influence of the King movement behind Wi Kingi Te Rangitake's resistance to the taking of the Waitara lands"
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on the New Zealand Wars
Waikato War: 1863-64
The Invasion of Waikato in 1863 was more or less a direct consequence from the establishment of the Maori King Movement. The Waikato was known to be the heartland of Te Kingitanga, for this reason among others, Governor George Grey turned his attention from Taranaki to Waikato. He then gave an ultimatum to the the Waikato tribes to side with either Queen Victoria or King Tawhaio but before the ultimatum could be reached to the tribe chiefs, Lieutenant General Duncan Cameron came with his fleet and crossed the Mangatawhiri stream, this waterway marked the 'aukati'- a line that should not be crossed between the European Settlement of Auckland and the territory under the protection of the Maori King (Kingitanga) (http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/war-in-waikato). Governor Grey then used the rumoured attack upon Auckland and the establishment's involvement in the Taranaki war to call on more British Troops. Thus starting the Waikato War which continued for the months to come till 1864.
This article, published by 'The Colonist' in April 1863 shows how The King Movement was still developing and changing as it was progressing. From this article it can even be gathered that the Wars had some presence in the decisions of the progression of the Kingitanga.
This image taken in 1863 show the Waikato Maori that lived close to the Waipa River as it allowed them transport by canoe and they had a consistent source of food (eels, fish etc) and for the mana of their tribe. It also shows the Europeans coming to invade in left of the photograph thus not only showing the Waikato War but also it's impact on the Maori