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.
- Page 5 - Te RangaUnlike 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.
Locality 8km south-west of Tauranga. Following the Battle of Gate Pā on 29 April 1864, the local Ngāi-te-Rangi Māori began constructing another fortification on a narrow ridge between two deep gullies here at Te Ranga, This work was spotted by a reconnaisance party of the Colonial Defence Force Cavalry, and on 21 June 1864 the unfinished pā was stormed with an artillery charge, and the trenches cleared out at bayonet point.
Meaning of place name
Te: the; ranga: ridge of a hill, sandbank, or company of people.
