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Story: New Zealand Wars

Gate Pā battle

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Gate Pā battle

Horatio Robley, a lieutenant in the 68th Regiment, made this watercolour showing the attack on Gate on 29 April 1864 by imperial forces. The painting shows his men advancing on the trenches held by men of Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui. After the initial exchange of shots there was considerable use of bayonets and mere. Several attacks failed, with heavy British casualties. The defenders later abandoned the under cover of darkness.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-019993-G

by Horatio Gordon Robley

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Danny Keenan, New Zealand Wars – Gate Pā, Tauranga, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/36926/gate-pa-battle (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Danny Keenan, published 11 June 2012, updated 29 November 2022.