NZHistory, New Zealand history online - te rangihaeata

Painting of Te Rangihaeata's pā at Pāuatahanui

This 1852 painting gives an artist’s impression of Te Rangihaeata’s pa on the site of what is now St Alban’s Church, Pāuatahanui. Following a series of British raids against this pā in 1846, Te Rangihaeata withdrew north to a position referred to as Battle Hill in the hills east of the Horokiri Stream. The abandoned pā at Pāuatahanui was later turned into a British military post.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-178-016
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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1846 map of Wellington war sites around Pauatahanui

This map of Porirua and Pāuatahanui Inlet shows the location of Paremata Fort and Rangihaetea’s two pā, one on the shore and the other on Battle Hill.

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Map from James Cowan, The New Zealand Wars vol 1 (NZETC website)

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Te Rangihaeata's pa at Pauatahanui

This ground plan of Te Rangihaeata’s pā at Pāuatahanui shows two rows of palisades, a six-foot-deep ditch, several whare, an open yard and a chapel. The sketch at lower right shows the outer palisades, which were over 15 feet in height. The holes near the ground may be for escape or for firing through.

A series of British raids on this pā, built on the site where St Alban’s church stands today, forced its abandonment. More than 300 Ngāti Toa, including women and children, withdrew north to a position in the hills east of the Horokiri Stream that is now known as Battle Hill. The abandoned pā was turned into a British military post from which detachments of regular regiments protected the Europeans who settled around the inlet.

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: DW-1163

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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Last battles - war in Wellington

The arrest of Te Rauparaha

In mid-1846, Governor George Grey decided to neutralise the Ngāti Toa threat in the Wellington region by arresting Te Rauparaha. Despite the fact that he had encouraged Maori to leave the Hutt Valley, Grey did not trust Te Rauparaha to remain neutral. He believed that removing Te Rauparaha from the area would weaken Ngāti Toa and assert his authority over the chief’s mana. He also wanted to avoid forcing Te Rauparaha into a choice between his nephew and the settlers.

Wellington war sites around Pāuatahanui

A small naval party landed at Te Rauparaha’s pā at Taupō (Plimmerton) at dawn on 23 July. The elderly chief appeared from his dwelling and grabbed a taiaha. His attempted blows were deflected, and he was seized and led away in chains to HMS Calliope. He was informed that he was under arrest for supplying weapons to Māori deemed to be in open rebellion against the Crown. No charges were actually laid and his continued detention was illegal. Te Rauparaha, like Te Kāeaea before him, was sent to Auckland. By the time he was released in January 1848, his mana and that of his tribe had diminished.

The British built a stockade not far from Te Rauparaha’s pā. The campaign to pacify the region now switched its focus to Te Rangihaeata and his positions in the nearby Pāuatahanui inlet.

Battle Hill

Te Rangihaeata’s pā at Pāuatahanui

When the British advanced on Te Rangihaeata’s pā at Pāuatahanui (where St Alban’s church stands today), the chief withdrew north to a position in the hills east of the Horokiri Stream. More than 300 Ngāti Toa, including women and children, took shelter behind a fortified position on a high ridgeline. The abandoned pā at Pāuatahanui was later turned into a British military post. It was garrisoned by detachments of regular regiments and provided protection to the Europeans who settled around the inlet.

The fight at Battle Hill

The arrival of British reinforcements enabled an assault against Te Rangihaeata’s new position, now known as Battle Hill. The attack began on 6 August 1846 in freezing rain. The assault force consisted of 250 British soldiers as well as militia and police. They were joined by 150 Te Ātiawa led by Wiremu Kīngi Te Rangitāke, and 100 dissident Ngāti Toa whom the British distrusted.

The government force moved up close to Te Rangihaeata’s position but pulled back when three of their number were killed, including Ensign H.M. Blackburn. A frontal assault was considered but quickly dismissed by officers mindful of the disastrous attack at Ōhaeawai the previous winter. The terrain and vegetation prevented a flanking manoeuvre, and thousands of rounds of musket fire failed to make any impression.

On 7 August two small mortars were brought up to about a kilometre from the fortification. Approximately 80 shells were fired, many landing in or near Te Rangihaeata’s position. Reluctant to advance and fearful of a counter-attack, the British decided to withdraw their regular troops. From 10 August it was left to the Te Ātiawa warriors to launch an occasional raid. On the 13th it was discovered that Te Rangihaeata had slipped away under cover of darkness and rain.

Painting of Te Rangihaeata’s pā

Te Rangihaeata’s groups were pursued by their Māori foe. A long retreat into the neighbouring Horowhenua district, in appalling winter conditions, effectively ended the Hutt Valley campaign.

Eventually Te Rangihaeata settled in the Poroutawhao swamp, south of present-day Foxton. His people suffered great hardships over the next few years but generally did not obstruct further European settlement. The government chose to leave Te Rangihaeata alone, declining to take action even when he imposed tolls on travellers on the beach road between Foxton and Levin.

Te Rangihaeata died in November 1855.

Significance of the war in Wellington

The Wellington campaign claimed few lives. Its real significance was the reassurance it gave settlers that their needs were slowly but surely being met by the Crown. Coming so quickly after the conclusion of the fighting in the Far North, the pacification of Te Rauparaha and Te Rangihaeata did much to enhance Grey’s reputation with the settler population. Conflict in two key areas of European settlement had been resolved.

Portrait of Te Rangihaeata

Portrait of the Ngāti Toa leader and warrior, Te Rangihaeata.

Te Rangihaeata and his uncle, Te Rauparaha, led their tribe during the Wairau incident of 1843. Te Rangihaeata’s wife, Te Rongo, was killed during the fighting and he took utu (revenge) by killing the Europeans taken prisoner at Wairau.

Read more about the Wairau incident
Read more about Te Rangihaeata (DNZB website)

Credit:

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-114-046
Artist: R. Hall
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image

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The Wairau incident

Also known as the ‘Wairau Affray’ and the ‘Wairau Massacre’, this was the first serious clash of arms between Māori and British settlers after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Four Māori and 22 Europeans were killed.

New Zealand Company settlers and Ngāti Toa clashed over land in the Wairau Valley, east of the Nelson settlement. Ngāti Toa disputed the validity of the Company’s purchase and obstructed a survey of the land, destroying some Company property. Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha insisted that the matter be dealt with by William Spain, who had been appointed to investigate land purchases prior to British annexation. The Company settlers disagreed and wanted Te Rauparaha and his nephew Te Rangihaeata brought to justice.

An armed posse of Europeans set out from Nelson to arrest Te Rauparaha. Fighting broke out and a number were killed on both sides, including Te Rongo, the wife of Te Rangihaeata. The surviving Europeans were surrounded and forced to surrender. Te Rauparaha may have been inclined to spare their lives had it not been for Te Rongo’s death. Instead, he accepted his nephew’s demand for utu and the prisoners were killed – most by Te Rangihaeata with his own mere.

The incident heightened fears among Pākehā of a Māori insurrection. When the new governor, Robert FitzRoy, arrived six months later the settler community demanded action against Ngāti Toa. Lacking the resources to fight a war had he been so inclined, FitzRoy incurred the wrath of settlers by arguing that the Māori had been provoked by the unreasonable actions of the Europeans.

Image: ‘Scene of the Wairau massacre’