There has been much recent discussion of the Battle of Te Ranga. I'd like to provide a tad more to the issue concerning the consequent confiscation of land. For two decades prior to 1860, Tauranga had been a peaceful settlement.

In 1863 a group of young Ngai Te Rangi joined the Kingite movement in the Waikato, thus becoming an enemy of the Crown. In 1865, following the Battles of Gate Pa and Te Ranga, the Tauranga district, estimated to be approximately 290,000 acres, was to be confiscated due to these tribal rebellions. However, Governor Grey promised that only one-quarter of Ngai Te Rangi's land would be confiscated. In the end only 50,000 acres was taken and the tribe emerged from the battle much better off than many other tribes caught up in the battles of the times.

Eventually much of the land was returned. In 1981 there was a payment of $250,000 - just over $1 million with inflation - to the Tauranga Moana Maori Trust Board and the full-and-final treaty settlement a couple of years ago for $38 million. A lot of history has gone under the bridge during the short timeline of our city.

Robin Bishop, Pyes Pa.