Today in History

1864 Assault of Gate Pa begins

With artillery and 1700 men available, the British began their assault on the Ngai Te Rangi stronghold of Pukehinahina (Gate Pa), which was defended by 230 warriors. 

Gate Pa had been built within three miles of the British camp at Tauranga in a clear attempt to provoke the latter into rash action. Ngai Te Rangi even offered to build a road to the pa. Sensing the opportunity for a successful assault, General Cameron arrived with reinforcements. On 28 April 1700 troops marched out to attack Gate Pa. The shelling of the pa starting at daybreak the following day.

The British artillery bombardment that day was the heaviest of the New Zealand wars, with 110-pound Armstrong guns supported by 24-pound howitzers. But Gate Pa withstood even this pounding. Maori had placed their war flag some 60 yards behind the pa but this fooled the gunners only briefly. By firing virtually no shots in return, the defenders created the impression that the shelling had largely wiped them out. In fact no more than 15 Maori were killed in the bombardment. When a confident British raiding party assaulted the pa the next day they were routed by warriors who emerged from underground bunkers. Within 10 minutes the storming party retreated, leaving behind 100 dead or wounded.

The defeat at Gate Pa was a major disaster for the British. Those involved looked for someone to blame: the assault party were branded as cowards, the army blamed naval troops, while Cameron was simultaneously accused of being too rash and overly cautious.