Page 11 - Te Tarata Booklet
P. 11
150 Year Commemoration
approached him they found that he in search of Kereopa’s pā when they
had 18 wounds in his body. He died came across a group of Māori on their
an hour later from his wounds, the irst way to Te Pua. The group led taking
casualty of the expedition. refuge in Te Tarata, where the major
battle took place with an exchange of
For several weeks the expedition stayed ‘hot ire’. Not long after, McDonnell Te Tarata - Ōpōtiki - Whakatōhea
in Ōpōtiki feasting on Whakatōhea and his troops were joined by cavalry.
livestock and crops and pillaging The pā was surrounded on three sides.
possessions and treasure from the The west side was near a steep 20 foot
many villages on the lood plain of the high bank on the river.
Waioweka and Ōtara Rivers.
Te Pua from the east quickly responded
Ngāti Ira was the only hapū that chose to the assault with a tauā of about 20.
to stand and defend its land against the They ran across the plains to the battle.
invaders while others led for safety. The cavalry responded with a charge,
Hira Te Popo prepared their three pā horses galloping and swords drawn.
around Kiorekino, the plains at the Warriors on foot were no match for
entrance to the Waioweka Gorge. cavalry, nine were killed. One of the
Ōpekerau was the furthest south at the wounded survivors, Paora Taia lived
mouth of the gorge. About halfway until 1921.
between Ōpekerau and Ōpōtiki were
Te Tarata and Te Pua (also referred to The siege at Te Tarata continued with
as Te Puia). Te Tarata was on the west heavy ire well into the night. By 8
of the plains (at the end of the present o’clock the defenders called out asking
day Piles Road off the main highway), what the terms of surrender would
and Te Pua was a little way east of Te be. McDonnell replied that it was
Tarata on a hill (off the present day to be unconditional surrender, those
Warringtons Road). involved in Volkner’s death tried and
the rest would be prisoners of war.
Siege on Te Tarata An hour’s truce was requested and
T he pā at Te Tarata was hastily built consequently granted with a cease-ire.
During this cease-ire, under a moonlit
and constructed of heavy timber
night, a sergeant noticed that the Māori
overlaid with tī kouka. The tī kouka’s
resilience allowed it to dampen the ire were taking advantage of the truce
from the British 6 pounder cannon. and cutting the aka vines fastening the
palisades together. As a cloud passed
On 5 October, Major Thomas over the moon, two shots were ired
McDonnell and a scouting party were from inside killing two troops. A long
section of the palisade was thrown
He Rā Maumaharatanga 11
approached him they found that he in search of Kereopa’s pā when they
had 18 wounds in his body. He died came across a group of Māori on their
an hour later from his wounds, the irst way to Te Pua. The group led taking
casualty of the expedition. refuge in Te Tarata, where the major
battle took place with an exchange of
For several weeks the expedition stayed ‘hot ire’. Not long after, McDonnell Te Tarata - Ōpōtiki - Whakatōhea
in Ōpōtiki feasting on Whakatōhea and his troops were joined by cavalry.
livestock and crops and pillaging The pā was surrounded on three sides.
possessions and treasure from the The west side was near a steep 20 foot
many villages on the lood plain of the high bank on the river.
Waioweka and Ōtara Rivers.
Te Pua from the east quickly responded
Ngāti Ira was the only hapū that chose to the assault with a tauā of about 20.
to stand and defend its land against the They ran across the plains to the battle.
invaders while others led for safety. The cavalry responded with a charge,
Hira Te Popo prepared their three pā horses galloping and swords drawn.
around Kiorekino, the plains at the Warriors on foot were no match for
entrance to the Waioweka Gorge. cavalry, nine were killed. One of the
Ōpekerau was the furthest south at the wounded survivors, Paora Taia lived
mouth of the gorge. About halfway until 1921.
between Ōpekerau and Ōpōtiki were
Te Tarata and Te Pua (also referred to The siege at Te Tarata continued with
as Te Puia). Te Tarata was on the west heavy ire well into the night. By 8
of the plains (at the end of the present o’clock the defenders called out asking
day Piles Road off the main highway), what the terms of surrender would
and Te Pua was a little way east of Te be. McDonnell replied that it was
Tarata on a hill (off the present day to be unconditional surrender, those
Warringtons Road). involved in Volkner’s death tried and
the rest would be prisoners of war.
Siege on Te Tarata An hour’s truce was requested and
T he pā at Te Tarata was hastily built consequently granted with a cease-ire.
During this cease-ire, under a moonlit
and constructed of heavy timber
night, a sergeant noticed that the Māori
overlaid with tī kouka. The tī kouka’s
resilience allowed it to dampen the ire were taking advantage of the truce
from the British 6 pounder cannon. and cutting the aka vines fastening the
palisades together. As a cloud passed
On 5 October, Major Thomas over the moon, two shots were ired
McDonnell and a scouting party were from inside killing two troops. A long
section of the palisade was thrown
He Rā Maumaharatanga 11
