Battle of Battle Hill | |||||||
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Part of New Zealand land wars | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Colonial forces Ngāti Awa | Ngāti Toa | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Major Last Major Arney Rawiri Puaha | Te Rangihaeata | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
250 bayonets: Regulars of the 58th, 65th, and 99th, the Hutt Militia, and the Wellington armed police 150 Ngāti Awa 2 small mortars 12 Royal Artillery men | 300 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
3 killed | At least 9 killed |
The Battle of Battle Hill was a battle of the New Zealand land wars fought between Ngāti Toa Māori, and a colonial force of European troops, police, and Ngāti Awa allies. The colonial force commanded by Major Last was seeking to end resistance to European settlement in the Hutt Valley region. It was pursuing over 300 Ngāti Toa, including women and children, led by Te Rangihaeata. The battle was fought over several days in early August 1846, on a forest ridge around six km north of Pauatahanui;[1] three government soldiers and at least nine Ngāti Toa were killed.[2]
On 6 August, the colonial force encountered Te Rangihaeata defending a breastwork at the crest of the narrow forest ridge. Last was unwilling to launch a suicidal frontal assault, and prevented from flanking by terrain. The colonials unleased a barrage of thousands of small arms rounds, but to little effect. On 8 August, Last had two small mortars brought up to about three-quarters of a mile from the defenders. They fired around 80 shells, many landing in or near the fortification. Unwilling to attack, and vulnerable to counter-attack, Last withdrew the regular troops on 10 August, leaving Ngāti Awa troops to launch an occassional skirmish.[1]
On 13 August Ngāti Awa discovered Te Rangihaeata had slipped away under cover of rain and darkness. They set off northwards in pursuit. In the final skirmish on the seaward side of the Pouawha Range, inland of Wainui, Ngāti Awa lost three men in return for four Ngāti Toa, before Te Rangihaeata made good his escape.[1]
The engagement pushed Te Rangihaeata out of the area and was one of the last fought between Maori and early colonial forces in the region.[3] The site of the battle has been preserved as a recreational area named Battle Hill Farm Forest Park.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Cowan, James (1955). "Chapter 13: Paua-Taha-Nui and Horokiri". The New Zealand Wars: A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period. Vol. Volume I: 1845–1864. Wellington: R. E. Owen. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
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has extra text (help) - ^ "New trail depicts Battle Hill history". Northern Courier. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ a b "Battle Hill Farm Forest Park". Greater Wellington Regional Council. Retrieved 2009-01-22.