Ruapekapeka

Ruapekapeka

The cause of the war

Was Te Tiriti o waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi. The Maori and British had different understandings of the Treaty.

The war it self

It seems the defenders were caught by surprise when a party of soldiers stormed the breach. Most of the warriors were not actually inside the pā at the time – they were among the trees at the rear, possibly setting up a trap. There was a fierce and bloody fight. A foolhardy group of soldiers rushed out the back of the pā, to be fired upon by warriors perched in the trees and crouching behind strategically fallen logs. This is how the British suffered most of their casualties – 12 killed and 29 wounded.

The aftermath

When the British arrived at the pa it was diserted, so the British took this as a victory. But now people are saying it was a draw or the mo