Over 1,500 people attended the 150 year commemorations of the Battle of Gate Pā in Tauranga today. The battle itself is a remainder of Māori brilliance, as they defeated a colonial British force of 1,700.
Land confiscation after the battle of Gate Pā eventually led to the settlement of the city of Tauranga, but the message is clear from the general public, these battles need to be acknowledged within NZ.
The commemorations for the NZ colonial wars will continue with the battle of Te Ranga on June 21, which was of course the response from the British colonial forces after their defeat here at Gate Pā.