The Tomahawk

The visitor to Rangiriri will find several sites of interest here: the main battle site of Rangiriri Pa, the Rangiriri museum, the Rangiriri cemetery, and Te Wheoro’s Redoubt. Wiremu Te Morehu Maipapa Te Wheoro Te Wheoro’s Redoubt, was originally (in 1864) a series of rifle pits comprising part of the Maori defences at Rangiriri, and was over-run by the British early-on during the battle. It overlooks Lake Kopuera. In the closing stages of the battle of Rangiriri many of the Maori women tried to escape from the main fortifications of Rangiriri pa across nearby Lake Kopuera - some with smaller children strapped to their backs. British soldiers had been stationed on the hill-top and shot them down as they fled. Their bodies have never been recovered and so lie at the bottom of the lake to this day. For this reason Lake Kopuera remains a sacred and tapu place (wahi tapu). After their victory at Rangiriri the British built a redoubt here on top of the hill, and left a small garr

Pirongia - A small town in the Waikato 13km NW of Te Awamutu on Hwy 39, on the historically important waterway of the Punui River. Site of three historic European redoubts from the Waikato war: the extant Western and the twin Alexandra East Redoubts. Also note the Pirongia Heritage Visitor Centre in town - contact for opening hours. What little remains of the northern Alexandra East redoubt can be seen at the vacant lots of 6 & & Aubin Close. I understand that the southern site has been obliterated. Alexandra West redoubt access: at the south end of Franklin Street (the main street) turn into Bellot St, continue for 100 meters and park by the signboard. Alexandra redoubt is a short walk up on the hill through the gate, on public land. This is the best preserved of the surviving Waikato redoubts. Inside the redoubt The outer ditch The outer ditch Video of my visit soon to be edited and uploaded to youtube.. European History: Although this area w

“Mercer” - named after Captain Henry Mercer of the Royal Artillery, who was killed at the nearby battle of Rangiriri (20 November 1863). The Maori name is Te Paina: literally te: the; paina: point. Access: On Highway 1 drive 5 km south from Pokeno, turn into Mercer Service Centre and head west towards the Waikato River (map below). Here in the small village of Mercer (which was a popular refreshment passenger stop on the main trunk railway line) is sited one of the two turrets from the river gunboat Pioneer, which has been incorporated into a World War I memorial (the other being at Ngaruawhahia). Also the famous Mercer cheese shop, and a small museum. Memorial figure Looking north over the Waikato River Memorial and museum History: By the early 1860‘s the NZ Colonial Government was hard-pressed to provide fertile land for a rapidly increasing number of settlers from Britain. Governor Grey’s solution was to declare the Maori in the King Country “rebels” by deeming