Te Ngutu o te Manu(Beak of the bird)- 21 August - 7 September 1868

Revenge for Turuturumōkai

 After inspecting the grisly scene at Turuturumōkai, McDonnell declared to one of his officers: 

                                                                       ‘Roberts, I shall have revenge for this’

However, his first two attempts to attack Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu achieved little. On 7 September McDonnell mounted a third expedition. The 360 men at his disposal outnumbered Tītokowaru’s force by six to one. They included ‘the cream’ of the Pātea Field Force, Tempsky’s Forest Rangers and Keepa’s Whanganui Māori. 

Source: Turuturumōkai to Moturoa', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/titokowarus-war/turuturumokai, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019

The element of surprise

 McDonnell’s force lost its way – and the element of surprise – while approaching Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. When they finally reached the clearing in front of the pā, the visible defences did not appear too challenging. However, fighters were concealed around the edge of the clearing and inside the pā. 

 The assault disintegrated and the colonial force fragmented into several groups which were harried by Tītokowaru’s men as they retreated towards Camp Waihī, 8 km away. 

Source: Turuturumōkai to Moturoa', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/titokowarus-war/turuturumokai, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019

Withdrawal and defeat

 By the time they reached safety, the colonists had lost more than 50 men dead and wounded. 

Blaming both his subordinates and his superiors for this shattering defeat, McDonnell did not help his case by writing recriminatory letters to the government.

 McDowell was dismissed on 14 October and replaced by his ‘hated rival’ George Whitmore, who had already succeeded him as commandant of the Armed Constabulary and had been leading the pursuit of Te Kooti on the east coast.

Source: 'Turuturumōkai to Moturoa', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/titokowarus-war/turuturumokai, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 9-Apr-2019

Major Gustavus von Tempsky shot and killed at Te Ngutu-o-te-manu

Reports on the battle from 1868

Centennial memorial - 1968