Wanganui blockhouses

View along the north shoreline of the Whanganui River, showing the Rutland Stockade (with two fortresses and other buildings within the perimeter fence). Military tents dot the slopes of the nearer hills, and the spire of St Peter's Church can be seen, along with the buildings along the shoreline.

Following the outbreak of fresh fighting in 1864 at Moutoa Island, Wanganui's existing defences - the Rutland and York stockades - were reinforced by a series of redoubts built along the river and on the town's northwestern boundary. The killing of provincial councillor James Hewett on his farm in February 1865 raised fears of another attack on Wanganui. Hewett's farm was only a few kilometres from one of the redoubts.