Ōrākau - March 1864
A DigitalNZ Story by Janice
The Battle at Ōrākau was fought between 31 March and 2 April 1864. These are images, stories and articles on the last of the battles of the war in the Waikato.
War in the Waikato, Ōrākau, Battle at Ōrākau, New Zealand wars, Colonial wars
Ōrākau pā
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
The battle at Ōrākau
In March 1864 war parties from Pāterangi, Ngāi Tūhoe and Ngāti Raukawa gained Ngāti Maniapoto leader Rewi Maniapoto’s agreement to fight the British at Ōrākau. Under his direction 300 men began constructing defensive earthworks. On 30 March a survey party observed the pā under construction and Brigadier General Robert Carey organised forward columns which arrived at Ōrākau the next day.
Source: Danny Keenan, 'New Zealand wars - Waikato war: major battles', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/new-zealand-wars/page-6 (accessed 5 November 2019)
Ground plan of Orakau pa, 1864
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Plan of Ground surrounding Orakau Pa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Brigadier General G. J. Carey
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The story of the Battle at Ōrākau.
The Battle of Ōrākau - War in Waikato
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Siege of Ōrākau
Topographic plan and cross section of the Ōrākau pā
Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
The battle As reported in the news in 1864
IN FRONT OF ORAKAU PA. (Wellington Independent, 12 April 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
THE THREE DAYS AT ORAKAU. (Daily Southern Cross, 08 April 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
STORMING OF THE ORAKAU PA. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 08 April 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
CAPTURE OF ORAKAU. (Hawke's Bay Herald, 04 May 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
EVACUATION OF ORAKAU. (Wellington Independent, 12 April 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
THE FIGHT AT ORAKAU. (Wellington Independent, 07 May 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
List of British casualties from Battle of Ōrākau.
BATTLE OF ORAKAU. (Taranaki Herald, 16 April 1864)
National Library of New Zealand
Heroes and the brave Bid to escape
At 3.30 p.m. nearly all the Māori left the pā in a disciplined body. This move in broad daylight caught the British by surprise and the Māori broke through the surrounding cordon. The fugitives then split into small groups that were pursued by cavalry and Forest Rangers across 3 km of open country to the Pūniu River. It was during this retreat that most of the Māori casualties occurred.
Source: 'The Battle of Ōrākau', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-waikato/battle-of-orakau, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019
The Defenders of Orakau - Hero Stories of New Zealand
Victoria University of Wellington
The decison to build the pā at Ōrākau and the casualties defending it.
The Defence of Orakau Pa - The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 11 (February 1, 1938)
Victoria University of Wellington
‘Ki te mate ngā tāne, me mate anō ngā wāhine me ngā tamariki’ – ‘If the men die, the women and children must die also.’
Aliumai te Paerata, the heroine of Orakau. — (From a drawing by T. Ryan, at Taupo.)
Victoria University of Wellington
Winitana Tupotahi — Tupotahi, who was one of the leading chiefs of Ngati-Maniapoto, was severely wounded at Orakau
Victoria University of Wellington
Tupotahi, Rewi's cousin, one of the leaders in the defence of Orākau. He was severely wounded there
Victoria University of Wellington
Rewi's last stand
Steady fire prevented Māori reinforcements from reaching Ōrākau. Unable to get to the pā, they sat ‘on the hill and wept their farewell, for they thought that … none (would) escape’. Lieutenant-General Cameron arrived on 2 April with reinforcements that increased the British strength to more than 1400. By now almost out of food, water and ammunition, the occupants of the pā were becoming desperate.
The defenders were offered a last chance to surrender. This demand was met with a famous reply, one version of which is:
E hoa, ka whawhai tonu mātou, Āke! Āke! Āke!
Friend, we will fight on forever, forever and forever!
Source: 'The Battle of Ōrākau', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/war-in-waikato/battle-of-orakau, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019
Rewi Maniapoto defies the British at Ōrākau
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Drawing of Rewi Maniapoto
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Letter to W.F. Gordon contradicting the statement that it was Rewi who made the memorable speech at Orakau
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Poster advertising Rudall Hayward's film version of Rewi's last stand, released in 1940.
Rewi’s last stand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Commemoration of the Battle of Ōrākau, 50 years later in 1914.
Commemoration of the jubilee of the Battle of Orakau
Auckland Libraries
James Adam Capper and Hekeria Te Rangimeet in peace on the 50th anniversary of the battle of Ōrākau.
Old adversaries meet at Ōrākau, 1914
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Report on the battle, and the unveiling of a monument at the site in 1914.
BATTLE OF ORAKAU. (Colonist, 02 April 1914)
National Library of New Zealand
Dr. Pomare's advice to remove restrictions preventing Māori from attending the 50 anniversary commemorations.
THE FALL OF ORAKAU. (Colonist, 05 March 1914)
National Library of New Zealand
Memorials
Ōrākau NZ Wars memorial
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Ōrākau, famed battle site - Roadside Stories
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Plaque at site of Orakau battle / massacre, Waikato, New Zealand
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Waikato Land War commemoration event at Orakau, Waikato, New Zealand, Tuesday, April 1, 2014.
ALPH0104141987
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
ALPH0104141784
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
ALPH0104142192
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
ALPH0104141578
Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Massey University historian Professor Michael Belgrave talks about the battle.
The Battle of Orakau with Michael Belgrave
Radio New Zealand
Moetū promises to be their eyes, day and night.
![Image: Serious in Intent, Playful in Manner [Book review]](https://thumbnailer.digitalnz.org/?resize=770x&src=https%3A%2F%2Fi0.wp.com%2Flandfallreview.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F03%2Fihimaera_sleeps_standing.jpg%3Fresize%3D197%2C300%26ssl%3D1&resize=368%253E "Serious in Intent, Playful in Manner [Book review]")
Book on the 1864, Battle of Ōrākau told from the perspective of Moetū, a 17 year-old boy from the Rongowhakaata iwi.
Serious in Intent, Playful in Manner [Book review]
Landfall