As St George's church bell rang out 60 times from the tower in Gate Pa, three cadets stood at attention and heads were partly bowed as people silently reflected on the Battle of Pukehinahina 157 years ago.

Commemorations were held on Thursday afternoon for the Battle of Gate Pa. Services began at 4pm.

Before the bells rang out, Rev'd John Hebenton welcomed everyone to the commemoration service and led the reflections on the battle.

As well as members of the public, the service was also attended by Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, Labour list MPs Angie Warren-Clark and Jan Tinetti, and Tauranga commissioners Anne Tolley, Shadrach Rolleston and Bill Wasley.

Kanarahi Poharama, 10, and her cousin Kororia Ngatai, 11, both from Merivale School, spoke about their great-great-great-great-grandfather Taiaho Ngatai. Ngatai Road in Otumoetai is named for him, and for the pa that was once there.

Kanarahi Poharama age 10, and Kororia Ngatai age 11, spoke about their ancestor Taiaho Ngatai.

A time of reflection followed with an audiovisual presentation featuring sand art by Marcus Winter and a further audiovisual presentation of historical photos. During this time the bell rang out 60 times.

The Battle of Gate Pa, also known as the Battle of Pukehinahina, fought near Tauranga on April 29, 1864, was notable for the ferocity of the fighting, the repulse of the British forces, and an act of chivalry by one of the defenders, Heni Te Kiri Karamu, who at some risk to her own life gave water to a dying British officer and other wounded men.

There are several memorials to the participants in Mission Cemetery in Marsh Street.

These include the Tauranga 1st Waikato Militia NZ Wars memorial, Tauranga 43rd Regiment NZ Wars memorial, Tauranga Naval NZ Wars memorial, individual memorials to Hori Ngatai and Rawiri Puhirake, and the Tauranga Maori NZ Wars memorial.

The pa site was garrisoned by men of the 68th Regiment after the battle, and by the colonial Armed Constabulary in the late 1860s.

In the 1870s the redoubt was abandoned, Cameron Road was cut through the site, and the remaining trenches were filled in.

As Peri Kohu prayed for the future of Tauranga, the theme of reconciliation came through his words, and he was followed by LTCDR Garth Mathieson, who read out the naval prayer in Maori and by SLT Justin Young who read it in English.

LTCDR Evan Dines, SLT Justin Young and LTCDR Garth Mathieson.

NZ Army officer and military historian Cliff Simons who is also a member of St George's church prayed remembering Maori and Pakeha who fought and died at Gate Pa 157 years ago.

His prayer included acknowledgment of the emotional suffering for the families from both sides, and that society would turn from violence to peace. Cliff has co-authored a book on the history of the battle.

Rev'd John Hebenton introduced Puhirake Ihaka who spoke of how Rawiri Puhirake who was born about 1808 at the foot of Mauao had been captured in 1818 as still a young boy, and taken up north.

There, near the Bay of Islands, he was trained in the art of warfare along with two others, and on returning to Tauranga about a decade later in their early 20s, the proficiency at warfare and trench construction became a significant factor during the Battle of Gate Pa.

When Rawiri died, he was taken from where he fell back home to Matapihi where he laid for 50 years, before being moved to the Mission Cemetery in Marsh Street, where a monument was erected in his honour.

The service ended in prayer, followed by refreshments in the attached church hall.

Puhirake Ihaka at Battle of Gate Pa commemoration.

Rev'd John Hebenton at Battle of Gate Pa commemoration.

Commissioners Anne Tolley, Shadrach Rolleston and Bill Wasley.