Mr. Buddy Mikaere has an odd idea of what constitutes a victory.

The facts of the Battle of Gate Pa need to be revisited to counter deceitful revisionists.

Although in the early 1860's Settler, Crown and Maori relations in the BOP had been relatively good, BOP chief Rawiri Puhirake had supported Waikato tribes in their rebellion and ignored requests and warnings to honour the Treaty and desist from this activity. When the Waikato Maori rebellion to exterminate settlers failed, Puhirake began to directly skirmish with communities in the BOP. The authorities initially ignored this in the hope the outcome of the Waikato conflict would dissuade him from further violence. However he became increasingly belligerent and provocative, demanding the Crown fight him. He built a large fortification at Gate Pa and threatened the Tauranga community. Mindful of countless Maori atrocities against each other and settler communities, the Tauranga settlement pleaded for assistance.

The force that had recently returned to Auckland from the Waikato war was sent to Tauranga. Puhirake manned his Pa and demanded that they engage him.

The British surrounded the site and commenced an artillery bombardment. This destroyed the visible fortifications but not the bomb proof shelters built within it's walls. Unknown to the British, a substantial number of Maori survived and when the British infantry entered the Pa site they were ambushed. The British withdrew with the loss of over 100 men and regrouped to attack again the following day. Maori losses were put at 25 but in reality are not accurately known. It is thought that many of the British casualties were caused by bombardment overshoot. Overnight the remaining Maori withdrew and the next day the British took the site without further conflict.

Though the British losses were more than for any other conflict in NZ, the loss of this strategic asset and area for Puhirake meant that he was never able to regroup and pose a significant threat again. Thus the Battle of Gate Pa was an important step for the Crown in bringing peace to the greater Tauranga area at a time when Maori were failing to honour the Treaty.

Mike Kuipers von Lande, Mt Maunganui.