British capture Rangiriri

More British soldiers were killed at ‘Bloody Rangiriri’ than in any other battle of the New Zealand Wars, but their eventual victory opened the Waikato basin to the imperial forces.

Following the invasion of Waikato (see 12 July), Māori built a defensive line across a narrow strip of land between the Waikato River and Lake Waikare.

The central redoubt, the work of the chief Te Wharepū, was a carefully hidden trap with concealed firing positions. But the formidable fortification was incomplete. It was also undermanned, with only about 500 fighters present, one-third of the British strength. The prolonged defence of downstream Meremere had stretched Māori resources – and it was now planting season.

On the afternoon of the 20th, imperial troops were landed by boat behind the Māori lines and the outlying earthworks were cleared. The central position remained unbreached despite repeated frontal assaults. Forty-seven British and 35 Māori were killed in a few hours.

At daybreak next morning the 180 Māori still in the pā raised a white flag, possibly in an attempt to negotiate. Instead, the British took them prisoner. They were marched to Auckland and later held on Kawau Island, from where they escaped to the mainland on the night of 11 September 1864. They entrenched themselves on a ridge overlooking Omaha and Matakana, and scoffed at suggestions they return to captivity. In James Cowan’s words, 'the Government wisely left them alone, and they presently made their way across to the Kaipara, and thence to West Waikato.'