Gate PÄ
Gate PÄ was the name of a MÄori PÄ or fortress built in 1864 only 5 km (3.1 mi) from the main British base of Camp Te Papa at Tauranga, during the Tauranga Campaign of the New Zealand Land Wars. The name pÄ comes from its appearance; the palisade looked like a picket fence while a higher part in the middle resembled a gate.The pÄ was built at the instigation of Chief Rawiri Puhirake of Ngai Te Rangi, on the edge of land owned by MÄori, where missionaries had erected a gate between MÄori and colonial settlers. Puhirake believed British reprisal for his support of the King Movement during the Waikato War was inevitable, so he constructed Gate Pa for protection. This failed to rouse the British so he began sending taunts, declaring he had built a road from the British camp to the pÄ, "so that the British would not be too tired to fight".General Duncan Cameron, whose Invasion of the Waikato had finished, determined to attack the pÄ with the majority of his forces to destroy the King Movement's allies. By the end of April, the British were ready to attack, with 1,700 men, opposed by 230 MÄori.A heavy bombardment was begun at daybreak on 29 April 1864 and continued for eight hours. The British had 15 artillery pieces including one of 110 pounds (50Â kg). By mid afternoon the pÄ looked as if it had been demolished and there was a large breach in the center of the palisade. At 4Â pm the barrage was lifted and 300 troops were sent up to capture and secure the position. The attacking troops forced the defenders back inside the pa and Maori looked to flee only then discovering their path to the rear blocked - they reentered the pa and continued fighting.The soldiers in the pa mistook these for fresh reinforcements.
