Events In History
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29 April 1864Assault on Gate PāWith substantial artillery and 1700 men, the British assaulted the Ngāi Te Rangi stronghold of Pukehinahina (Gate Pā), which was defended by just 230 warriors. Read more...
Articles
War in Tauranga
During the first half of 1864 the focus of the New Zealand Wars shifted from Waikato to Tauranga. In this phase of the conflict British forces suffered a catastrophic defeat at Pukehinahina – better known as the Gate pā – but later inflicted heavy losses on Māori forces at Te Ranga.
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Page 3 – Gate Pā
Gate Pā was a major disaster for the British military who suffered twice the casualties of the Māori defenders
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Page 5 – Te Ranga
Unlike at Gate Pā, where the British assault had been concentrated at two points, at Te Ranga the British were able to attack all along the line of trenches.
Site of an important battle, 3km south of Tauranga. After British and colonial forces landed at Te Papa in 1864, Tauranga Māori built a strong pā on the Pukehinahina ridge. British forces shelled the pā on 29 April but were repulsed with heavy losses, despite an overwhelming advantage in numbers (over 1,600 against about 200). Māori forces departed during the night, but two months later were overcome at a partly finished pā at Te Ranga, a short distance inland.
