On the eve the battle, British troops have ringfenced Gate Pa. Māori are out-numbered 7:1. Can they survive the biggest artillery bombardment ever on New Zealand soil and face down the might of empire? It's a clash between the world's most powerful artillery and revolutionary pa design, and one that spills over into more violence at Te Ranga.
Watch the video documentary here.
On the eve the battle, British troops have ringfenced Gate Pa. Māori are out-numbered 7:1.
Can they survive the biggest artillery bombardment ever on New Zealand soil and face down the might of empire? It's a clash between the world's most powerful artillery and revolutionary pa design. Plus, what happens next at the oft-forgotten Battle of Te Ranga?
Host Justine Murray continues her journey into her whānau's past and the competing truths of Aotearoa's history.
Paraone Koikoi was at the Battle of Gate Pa in 1864, when Tauranga Moana iwi bested the British army in one of the most humiliating defeats in its history. Now, 160 years later, his great-great-great grand-daughter tells the story of a blockade, bombardment and a famous battle. In episode one, 600 British troops land in Tauranga, Māori return from Waikato to defend their land, and a code of conduct for war is drafted.
Watch the video documentary here.
Paraone Koikoi was at the Battle of Gate Pa in 1864, when Tauranga Moana iwi bested the British army in one of the most humiliating defeats in its history.
Now, 160 years later, his great-great-great grand-daughter combines her personal story with rigorous history to tell the story of a blockade, bombardment and a famous battle.
In episode one, 600 British troops land in Tauranga, Māori return from Waikato to defend their land, radical new pa are built, and a code of conduct for war in drafted.
On the morning of 29 April 1864, British colonial forces opened fire on Pukehinahina Gate Pā. This was the first engagement of a military campaign waged against the iwi of Tauranga Moana and their allies. On the 160th anniversary of this momentous event, RNZ launches the two-part podcast series NZ Wars: Stories of Tauranga Moana.
On the morning of 29 April 1864, British colonial forces opened fire on Pukehinahina Gate Pā. This was the first engagement of a military campaign waged against the iwi of Tauranga Moana and their allies. Pukehinahina was followed by the Battle of Te Ranga, one of the bloodiest clashes of the NZ Wars, then Te Weranga the 1867 Tauranga Bush Campaign aimed to crush Māori resistance to the surveying and confiscation of lands.
On the 160th anniversary of this momentous event, RNZ will launch Stories of Tauranga Moana, the next chapter of the award-winning NZ Wars series.
RNZ Podcasts Senior Producer Justine Murray (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi) presents her own personal connection to these stories through her tupuna Pāraone Koikoi in a two-part podcast series. An ariki of the hapū Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Paraone was there at the Battle of Gate Pā. His son Ihakara would be killed in the battle, but afterwards his young daughter Te Auetu and wife Matatu would help the wounded on both sides. These stories are recorded in raupatu evidence in Waitangi Tribunal reports, given by Paraone's descendants.
Over the past few months, Murray has interviewed her whānau about Paraone. While the stories are vague at times, this story hopes to paint a picture of this tupuna, who lived in Tauranga Moana at a time where conflict and the subsequent land confiscations would have tragic consequences.
