Meremere - October 1863

Waikato Māori

At its peak the Māori force at Meremere numbered perhaps a thousand men under the overall command of the Ngāti Haua leader Wiremu Tāmihana. Every tribe which acknowledged the authority of King Tāwhiao had fighters there.

Source: The opening phase', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-waikato/opening-phase, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019

Cameron's Army

Cameron assembled an armoured river fleet to carry men and supplies for the assault on Meremere. The paddle-steamer Avon had been readied for war at Onehunga in 1862. Iron-plated for protection from enemy fire, it was armed with a 12-pounder ship’s gun and a Congreve rocket tube. Four armoured barges were prepared to ferry troops. In October 1863 this fleet was boosted by the arrival of the ‘rifle gunboat’ Pioneer. Capable of carrying 300 men, this was the first naval vessel built for the New Zealand government. 

Source: 'The opening phase', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-waikato/opening-phase, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019

Stories in images, by artists Charles Heaphy, Joseph Osbertus Hamley and Edward Arthur William

In 1859 Heaphy enlisted with the Auckland Rifle Volunteers. He supported the war that broke out in Taranaki in 1860. As preparations were made to invade the Waikato he helped with the survey work for the military road being driven south from Auckland. By July 1863 he was in command of a local militia and became Lieutenant-General Duncan Cameron’s Military Surveyor and Guide to the Forces

Source: 'Charles Heaphy', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/charles-heaphy, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 8-Nov-2017

gunboats on the River Waikato

On 12 August 1863 the gunboat Avon fired on Meremere, then slipped past to conduct reconnaissance. The Pioneer followed, exchanging fire with concealed riflemen. 

Source: Danny Keenan, 'New Zealand wars - Waikato war: beginnings', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars/page-5 (accessed 1 November 2019)

The big guns used

 On 31 October 1863, 600 men of the 40th and 65th regiments and two 12-pounder Armstrong guns were loaded onto the Pioneer, the Avon and the four barges, which were towed by two steamers.  

Source: 'The opening phase', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-waikato/opening-phase, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019

Newspaper reports from 1863 on the Battle of Meremere