Rua also believed that seeing the Tuhoe Tribe had never even signed the Treaty there was no reason why they must uphold this document and support Brittan in the First World War. While the intensions of the Treaty were meant to be positive, the discrepancies and neglect of the Treaty in years to come was a source of grievance for Rua, along with many other Maori. However, what angered Rua the most as seen though his resistance in the First World War, was the way that the Crown had separate laws for Maori and Pakeha, reinforcing not only how the crown neglected the Treaty, but also how they discriminated against Maori. .
More importantly, the influence of the prophet movement, in particular Te Kooti's legacy, was a long-term spiritual and religious factor that led to Rua's separatist beliefs and subsequent passive resistance during World War One. Te Kooti's founded the Ringatū religion in 1866. While he was a rather violent figure he reconnected with his face and made friends with his enemies in the last twenty years of his life. His adoption of pacifism was of upmost importance to Rua, who was told stories of Te Kooti's life and peaceful ideologies from a young age. Along with other pacifists such as Te Whiti and Tohu at Parihaka, Te Kooti significantly influenced Rua, helping him to form his moral compass. However, the value that Rua campaigned the most for was equality between Maori and Pakeha as shown though his motto 'one law for two people.' Such values help us to understand why Rua believed he was the successor Te Kooti had prophesized would come help Maori regain their chieftainship. This heightened Rua's pacifist beliefs and is therefore a key factor that led to his unwavering resistance throughout the First World War. .
A significant economic, political and somewhat strategic move on behalf of the government that lead to Rua's resistance during the First World War was the New Zealand Wars, which exemplified the injustices inflicted on Maori, their culture and their land.
