April 29, 2014
Gate Pa invasion remembered
It’s a sombre day in Tauranga Moana as Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga remember the day that war came to their homes.
The local iwi prevailed against a much larger British force that day in 1864, only to be overrun six weeks later at Te Ranga and their land taken by confiscation.
Ngai Te Rangi chair Charlie Tawhiao says despite showers and rain there is a good turnout of both Maori and Pakeha for the day’s events, which started with a karakia and unveiling of pou at the Gate Pa Reserve on the Pukehinahina Ridge.
He says the fact it was an invasion of a sovereign people is becoming more widely recognised.
"The idea of this being about land wars or that sort of thing is a nonsense. It's people having their lands invaded by an occupying force who sought to dispossess us of our lands. History over time has blurred that into some romanticised story of it being a few battles and some quite racist and noble acts particularly from our tupuna. For those of us who are looking at history in a broader context we cant help but see this as our treaty partners waging war on us," Mr Tawhiao says.
A mass powhiri including a specially-composed haka peruperu is starting about now at Gate Pa Reserve, to be followed by a commemoration march down Cameron St.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHARLIE TAWHIAO CLICK ON THE LINK
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