File:Otane Wamuku to Te Aroha mountain, Wairoa River, Katikati, Tauranga town and Harbour, redoubt, bush, Gate Pā. (25960161144).jpg

Scale 6 miles:1 inch Date: 1865.

Archives reference: AAFV 997 Box 6 /[b] A52 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22822543

On 29 April 1864, the Battle of Pukehinahina (Gate Pā) took place in Tauranga. 250 Ngāi Te Rangi inflicted a heavy defeat on a much larger British force of 1700 men. This defeat embarrassed the British military and its leadership, and was a significant event in the New Zealand Land Wars.

Months earlier, in January 1864, British troops were sent from Auckland to Tauranga. Soldiers of the 43rd Monmouth Light Infantry refortified an old pā site, Taumatakahawai. The aim was to prevent the flow of reinforcements and supplies from local Ngāi Te Rangi to the main Kīngitanga force in Waikato. Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and other Tauranga Māori who had been fighting in Waikato returned home to oppose what they saw as the occupation of their lands.

Ngāi Te Rangi rebuilt an old pā at Te Waoku, 15 to 20 km from the British camp at Te Papa. The new British commander, Lieutenant-Colonel H.H. Greer, was invited to ‘bring his soldiers to fight at Te Waoku.’ The British were goaded further when the Ngāi Te Rangi leader Rāwiri Puhirake offered to build a road for the ‘convenience’ of the troops. When the challenge still went unheeded, the potential battle site was moved closer: the fortifications that became known as Gate Pā were built at Pukehinahina, just 3 km from Te Papa. The British soldiers met defeat.

Conflicts in Tauranga continued with the last major battle fought at Te Rānga in June. Here British soldiers were able to overwhelm the Māori force, who suffered heavy casualties.

As a result of rebelling against the Crown blocks of Māori land were surveyed for confiscation, while other tracts of land were purchased by the Government. The map above was drawn up in 1865 before these acquisitions were finalised. It shows Gate Pā at centre, near the Tauranga settlement, and three blocks outlined in red ink - Tawhitinui, Apata, and Aongatete – which were proposed for military settlers.

A full account of the battle at Gate Pā can be found at www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/war-in-tauranga/gate-pa

More about the War in Tauranga can be found at www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/war-in-tauranga.

Images from the 2014 centennial of the battle can be seen here: www.flickr.com/photos/manatu_taonga/sets/72157644442100381/

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