Story: Ngāti Porou

Remains of the pā at Waerenga-a-Hika

Remains of the pā at Waerenga-a-Hika

In 1865 a civil war broke out among Ngāti Porou as one group fought Pai Mārire converts. A bitter battle took place at Waerenga-a-Hika, just inland from modern Gisborne. Ngāti Porou and government forces besieged the , which held some 800 Pai Mārire sympathisers, mostly from Tūranga. The pā fell after five days: 11 of the besieging force and 71 defenders were killed.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: F-8137-1/2

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How to cite this page:

Tamati Muturangi Reedy, 'Ngāti Porou - Post-European conflicts and developments', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4376/remains-of-the-pa-at-waerenga-a-hika (accessed 3 May 2024)

Story by Tamati Muturangi Reedy, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2017