NZ History MapAotearoa 1800–2000
War & conflict

Gate Pā — Pukehinahina

When
29 April 1864
Where
Pukehinahina, Tauranga · Pukehinahina
Reach
Local

A heavier bombardment than anything at Sebastopol failed to break the pā, and the assault that followed was routed by defenders in bunkers beneath it.

Ngāi Te Rangi engineers had built covered shelters that absorbed the shelling, then met the storming party at close quarters. Thirty-one British soldiers died in minutes. Before the battle the defenders had drawn up a code of conduct, and they gave water to wounded enemies during the night — an act still commemorated at Tauranga. The defeat was avenged at Te Ranga eight weeks later.

Regions affected

Bay of Plenty

Sources

Written for this project from these references rather than copied from them. Follow a link to check the account against the original.

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