NZ Wars: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika

In 1865, government forces planned an expedition against the Pai Mārire community at Waerenga-a-Hika pā, near Gisborne. The pā had become a refuge for several hundred people who made up over half the Tūranga Māori population, fleeing the East Coast Wars. Government agent Donald McLean assembled a mixed force of Ngāti Porou volunteers and European troops, including Military Settlers and the East Cape expeditionary force. McLean issued an ultimatum and when his demands weren’t met, the forces launched an attack, surrounding the pā and beginning a six-day siege.

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