Moutoa memorial c1865

The grateful European citizens of Wanganui interpreted the victory at Moutoa as a sign of the absolute loyalty of lower Whanganui River Maori. They dug deep into their pockets and commissioned a statue and flag to honour ‘loyal’ Maori who had stood firm against the Pai Marire threat. The memorial was erected near the river, at Pakaitore, a sandy beach where Maori canoes traditionally moored for trade and exchange. This site became known as Moutoa Gardens. The inscription on the memorial – New Zealand's first war memorial – reads:

To the memory of those brave men who fell at Moutoa 14 May 1864 in defence of law and order against fanaticism and barbarism.

This photo also shows the Rutland Stockade and associated blockhouses in the background.