Battle of Ruapekapeka
The Battle of Ruapekapeka was an engagement that took place from late-December 1845 to mid-January 1846 between British forces, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Despard, and Māori warriors of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe), led by Hōne Heke and Te Ruki Kawiti, during the Flagstaff War in the Bay of Islands region of New Zealand.
| Battle of Ruapekapeka | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Flagstaff War | |||
The bombardment of Ruapekapeka, January 1846. Artist: Cyprian Bridge, Major, 58th Regiment | |||
| |||
| Belligerents | |||
| United Kingdom: Colony of New Zealand | Māori | ||
| Commanders and leaders | |||
|
Henry Despard Tāmati Wāka Nene |
Te Ruki Kawiti Hōne Heke | ||
| Units involved | |||
|
Royal Navy
Auckland Militia
Maori Allies
|
Te Ruki Kawiti Hōne Heke | ||
| Strength | |||
|
Military 68 officers + 1110 men Maori Allies 450 warriors: 67 |
Ruapekapeka ~ 500 warriors: 67 | ||
| Casualties and losses | |||
|
Military 13 killed 30 wounded: 69 Maori Allies 8–10 killed 15–20 wounded | Unknown | ||
The battle site was a pā located 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Kawakawa, which was one of the largest and most complex fortifications of its kind in New Zealand; Ngāpuhi designed it specifically to counter the cannon of British forces. The earthworks of the pā can still be seen.
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