June 23, 2014
Land wars memorial foundation for future
Tauranga Moana iwi are looking at ways to build on a series of successful commemorations of major land wars battles in their region.
On Saturday several hundred people marked the Battle of Te Ranga, which happened about 10 km south of Tauranga on the shortest day of 1864.
Historian Buddy Mikaere says the event attracted iwi who were part of the action, the army, the British defence attaché and a many locals whose interest was piqued by the commemoration of Pukehinihina-Gate Pa two months ago.
He says the reenactment was followed by a memorial service.
"We had young people taking a prominent part in that and talking about how we need not only to honour the people who were killed at Te Ranga but also to look to the future and to let this mamae, this hurt, this open would be healed so we as a combined community can move forward," Mr Mikaere says.
There’s now a search on for a permanent home for the exhibition put together as part of the commemorations.
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