Ngāti Whātua is preparing to commemorate 200 years since one of the most significant battles in the tribe’s recent history took place — where hundreds were killed in an inter-tribal war.
In 1825, the iwi attempted to fend off an attack by neighbouring iwi Ngāpuhi at a site near Kaiwaka in the battle of Te Ika a Ranganui.
Ngāti Whātua outnumbered the opposing side two to one but suffered the catastrophic loss of 300 lives against the five-hundred-armed Ngāpuhi force.
Seventy Ngāpuhi warriors were also killed in the bloody conflict.
Tomorrow, a dawn ceremony will take place at the site of the battle to remember and pay tribute to those who were slain — with the added hope of allowing past wounds to heal.
Representatives from Ngāpuhi, as well as politicians, will be in attendance.
Te Kurataiaho Kapea said he was proud of iwi efforts to reach this milestone.
“Tomorrow will be magnificent, a day that the tribe and generations to come will remember.”
He said he was “happy, joyful and excited” about the future as they move to acknowledge the past, and to mourn and work through the intergenerational trauma that resulted from the battle.
“And through that mourning, [we will be] able to celebrate and move into an amazing future.”
Robbie Paora of Ngāti Whātua said it was important to commemorate inter-tribal battles.
“For Ngāti Whatua, this is one of the last major battles that we had. It also includes new technology such as the muskets [used] against another tribe.”
It’s something that will never be forgotten, he said, especially since it has been spoken about a lot more in the lead up to the 200-year commemoration.
“So just keeping it in our memories while also looking into the future. It’s a bit of a combination of both really.”
What next for Ngāti Whātua and the battle site?
Looking to the future, Paora believes it’s imperative the battle site is returned to the iwi. Currently, it’s on private property.
“Our current leadership within the iwi across the region need to come together, get in a room, and think about working with the person who owns this whenua at the moment, and hopefully buying it back so that whenever we need to, we can come back to this place and remember our ancestors.
“It’s such a significant place.”
For Kapea, two things come to mind. The return of the land through working with the owner; and the development of the people “in mind, in heart and spirit, and in our cultural abilities”.
