150 years after the battle of Te Ranga what do we know of the history of that day?
What accounts were made at the time - and by whom?
How did the events that took place on one day on a ridge less than 10 miles inland from the Tauranga harbour connect to the history of the local Ngāi Te Rangi people, to the wider events within the colony of New Zealand, and to the British Empire beyond?
We are looking down the barrel of history to the events of 21 June 1864, approaching time from two directions:
We will also be reflecting on the history that has been told of those events, and the consequences of that history.
In 2004 the Waitangi Tribunal's Te Raupatu o Tauranga Moana report (Wai 215) presented a comprehensive account of the history and its impact on Ngāi Te Rangi. Ngāi Te Rangi signed a deed of settlement with the Crown in December 2013, the result of negotiations following acknowledgement of historical wrongs.
What accounts were made at the time - and by whom?
How did the events that took place on one day on a ridge less than 10 miles inland from the Tauranga harbour connect to the history of the local Ngāi Te Rangi people, to the wider events within the colony of New Zealand, and to the British Empire beyond?
We are looking down the barrel of history to the events of 21 June 1864, approaching time from two directions:
- forward, as the events unfolded for contemporaries through the early months of 1864, and
- backward, from 2014 , looking across 150 years at the events of June 1864.
We will also be reflecting on the history that has been told of those events, and the consequences of that history.
In 2004 the Waitangi Tribunal's Te Raupatu o Tauranga Moana report (Wai 215) presented a comprehensive account of the history and its impact on Ngāi Te Rangi. Ngāi Te Rangi signed a deed of settlement with the Crown in December 2013, the result of negotiations following acknowledgement of historical wrongs.
The events at Te Ranga are less well known than those which took place at Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) seven weeks earlier, 28-29 April 1864. At Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) British forces mounted a massive artillery bombardment of an elaborately built defensive pa site. Despite their huge advantage in armaments, they were heavily defeated. Under Rāwiri Puhirake's leadership, Ngāi Te Rangi and other supporting fighters, outwitted their opponents in strategy and timing. Over 35 British soldiers and sailors died in the battle, including a number of officers. Māori casualties were reported as 25 dead. What happened at Te Ranga on 21 June must be seen in the context of what had occurred at the end of April just a few kilometres away.
The 150th commemoration of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) is being marked by a number of events: links to these can be found on our Links page.
The 150th commemoration of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa) is being marked by a number of events: links to these can be found on our Links page.
Looking down the barrel of history has been developed by Charlotte Macdonald, History, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Whare Wananga o Te Upoko o Te Ika a Maui.
The site will be added to by students in HIST 316 New Zealand Social History, Victoria University of Wellington, in the March-June semester of 2014. The site is an exploratory foray into digital history.
Development of the site has been assisted by Jonathan Flutey, Rebecca Lenihan and Max Sullivan.
The site will be added to by students in HIST 316 New Zealand Social History, Victoria University of Wellington, in the March-June semester of 2014. The site is an exploratory foray into digital history.
Development of the site has been assisted by Jonathan Flutey, Rebecca Lenihan and Max Sullivan.