Whakatōhea Commemorate Seige of Te Tarata 150 Years Ago
Whakatōhea will convene the 150th Commemoration of the siege of Te Tarata pā that took place on the Kiorekino plain at
Waioeka in Opotiki.
Confiscations under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863 and its amendments took place in South Auckland, Waikato,
Tauranga, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, Taranaki, and the Mōhaka–Waikare district in Hawke’s Bay. Confiscations also took place in
Poverty Bay under separate legislation.
The largest confiscations were in Waikato and Taranaki. The effects varied from region to region, but the consequences
were very severe for Waikato–Tainui tribes; Taranaki tribes; Ngāi Te Rangi in Tauranga; and Ngāti Awa, Whakatōhea and
Tūhoe in the eastern Bay of Plenty.
“This will be the first time that Whakatōhea have held such a significant event so we are excited to be able to
commemorate the battle and educate our whānau about the history that unfolded in Te Whakatohea in the 1865 that resulted
in the raupatu of all our lands.” says Te Tarata Committee chairperson Te Rua Rakuraku.
“Whakatohea is now on a committed path to uncovering the consequences of this unjust legislation. The commemorations is
a significant first step in the process and also in the pre-settlement stages for our Iwi.” says Te Ringahuia Hata.
The commemoration will be held on October the 5th in Opotiki.
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