Learn about battles that have shaped this region and this country.
Whakaakona mai ki ngā pakanga whenua o tēnei wāhi, o tēnei whenua anō.
Overview
Tirohanga whānui
2 days2 rā
Visit the places where the significant intertribal battles of Hingakākā, Mātakitaki and Taumatawīwī were waged. Experience sites connected to the New Zealand Land Wars in the Waipā and Waikato regions (1863-4). Hear a range of perspectives on what happened from local experts.
To visit all stops on this itinerary, we recommend allowing 2 days. For best experience of the mobile tour, pack some earphones so you can easily hear the video stories while out and about.
Haere ki ngā wāhi i puta ai ngā pakanga ā-iwi nunui, ki Hingakākā, ki Mātakitaki me Taumatawīwī. Tirohia ngā wāhi i whai wāhi ai ki ngā pakanga whenua o Aotearoa i te rohe o Waipā me Waikato (1863-1864). Whakarongo ki ētehi tirohanga e pā ana ki ngā mahi puta i ngā pūkōrero ā-rohe. Whakawāteahia kia 2 ngā rā kia toro ai koe i ngā tūnga katoa o tēnei haerenga. Kia riro pai i ngā hua o te haerenga nei mā runga waea, kawea mai ētehi purutaringa kia rangona pai ai ngā kiriata whakamārama. He kōrero āpiti: He ataata kei tēnei haerenga e whakaatu ana i tā ētehi mātanga Pākehā titiro. Kia pai ai, whakamahia te putanga reo Pākehā o tēnei haerenga ā-waea.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Directions
Ngā tohutohu
Day 1: Ngā Roto
Te Rā 1: Ngā Roto
A
A
Head to the Ngā Roto Zone Overview (Ngā Roto Carpark)
Haere ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Ngā Roto (Te Tūnga Waka o Ngā Roto)
If you’re travelling from Te Awamutu Museum, allow a 7 minute drive to get to this first stop.
Mehemea e taraiwa ana koe i Te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu, whakawātea kia 7 meneti kia tae ai koe ki te tūnga tuatahi.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Cyclists: please travel anticlockwise from the south end of the lake.
Dogs on leash pleaseKaipahikara mā: Haere mā te taha taitonga o te roto.
Kia herea ngā kurī
Walk clockwise around the lake, to Ngā Roto Stop 3 (20 min)
Haere kōaro i te taha o te roto ki te Tūnga 3 o Ngā Roto (20 meneti)
B
B
Ngā Roto Stop 3: Battle of Hingakākā
Te Tūnga 3 o ki Ngā Roto (Te Pakanga o Hingakākā)
Overlook the site of the largest intertribal battle ever fought in this country, which occurred around the late 1700s.
Tirohia te papa i tū ai te pakanga ā-iwi nunui rawa atu i tēnei whenua i ngā tau tōmuri o te rautau 1700.
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk back to the carpark (20 min returning the way you came, or 40 min continuing around the lake)E hoki ki te tūnga waka (e 20 meneti te roa o te hokinga i te ara i haere mai ai koe, e 40 min rānei te roa me ka haere i te taha o te roto)
Drive to Rangiaowhia Rd (about 14 min)
Taraiwa ki te rori o Karāpiro (tōna 14 min)
Day 1 Continued: Rangiaowhia - O-Rākau
Te Rā 1: Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau
C
C
Head to the Rangiaowhia - O-Rākau Zone Overview
Haere ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau
Park near the church.
Whakatūria tō waka i te taha o te whare karakia.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk up the road to Stop 2 (2 min)
Whīkoi i te rori ki te Tūnga 2 (2 meneti)
D
D
Rangiaowhia - O-Rākau Stop 2 (Attack on Rangiaowhia)
Te Tūnga 2 i Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau (Te Whakaeke i Rangiaowhia)
Hear what happened when British Crown forces invaded this peaceful Māori village on 21 February 1864, and learn why Rangiaowhia was a target.
Whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō ngā mahi i puta i te whakaeketanga o tēnei kāinga rangimārie nō te Māori e ngā hōia Pākehā i te 21 o Rūhīterangi, i te tau 1864 me te ako anō i te take i whāia ai a Rangiaowhia.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Return to your car (2 min)E hoki ki tō waha (2 meneti)
Drive to Stop 4, at the Rangiaowhia Rd-Puahue Rd intersection (1 min)
Taraiwa ki te Tūnga 4 kei te pūtahitanga o te rori o Rangiaowhia me te rori o Puahue (1 meneti)
E
E
Rangiaowhia - O-Rākau Stop 4 (Monument for Burned Whare)
Te Tūnga 4 i Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau (Ngā Whare i Wera)
On this site a whare karakia (house of prayer) burned during the attack by the British Crown forces. Hear about the tūpuna (Māori ancestors) who experienced atrocities here.
I konei, i wera i te ahi tētehi whare karakia i te wā o te whakaeke a ngā hōia Pākehā a te Karauna. Whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō ngā tūpuna i tūkinotia i konei.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk across the road to Stop 5 (>1 min)
Whakawhiti i te rori ki te Tūnga 5 (>1 meneti)
F
F
Rangiaowhia - O-Rākau Stop 5 (Battle of Hairini)
Te Tūnga 5 i Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau (Te Pakanga i Hairini)
Overlook the ridgeline where Māori lined up on 22 February 1864, to avenge the attack on Rangiaowhia.
Tirohia te pae whenua i rārangi mai ai ngā Māori i te 22 o Rūhīterangi, i te tau 1864 ki te whakaea i te parekura i Rangiaowhia.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Drive to the O-Rākau battle site, on Arapuni Rd (8 min)
Taraiwa atu ki te pae o te riri o O-Rākau kei te rori o Arapuni (8 meneti)
Te Tūnga 6 i Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau (Te Pae o Te Riri o O-Rākau)
View the site where brutal fighting was waged between the British Crown forces and Māori from 31 March to 2 April 1864. This was the final battle of the Crown’s invasion of the Waikato.
Tirohia te wāhi i mura ai te ahi o te pakanga i waenga i ngā hōia Pākehā me ngā Māori mai i te 31 o Poutūterangi ki te 2 o Paengawhāwhā, i te tau 1864. Koinei te pakanga whakamutunga o te whakaeke a te Karauna ki roto i te rohe o Waikato.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Drive to Kihikihi (5 min)
Taraiwa atu ki Kihikihi (5 meneti)
H
H
Rangiaowhia - O-Rākau Stop 7 (Kihikihi)
Te Tūnga 7 i Rangiaowhia ki O-Rākau (Kihikihi)
Discover what happened when the British Crown forces occupied the Māori village of Kihikihi in February 1864, and learn about the military origins of the European settlement.
Tūhuratia ngā mahi i puta i te wā i noho mai ngā hōia Pākehā i te kāinga Māori o Kihikihi i te marama o Rūhīterangi, i te tau 1864. Ka ako hoki koe i ngā taketakenga hōia o taua kāinga Pākehā.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Drive to Pirongia (17 min)
Taraiwa atu ki Pirongia (17 meneti)
Day 1 Continued: Pirongia
Te Rā 1: Pirongia
I
I
Head to Pirongia Stop 4 (Mātakitaki Pā Site) – Matakitaki Lane
Haere ki te Tūnga 4 o Pirongia (Mātakitaki Pā) – te ara ki Mātakitaki
Explore Mātakitaki, a formidable fortified pā (Māori settlement), which was decimated when Hongi Hika introduced this region to a new form of weaponry in 1822: the musket. If you’re travelling from Te Awamutu Museum, allow a 15 minute drive to get to this first stop.
Tūhuratia a Mātakitaki, he pā tūwatawata nui whakaharahara i parekuratia ai i te kawenga mai a Hongi Hika i te rākau patu hou ki tēnei rohe i te tau 1822, arā i te pū.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Drive to Pirongia Zone Overview – Central Pirongia (1 min)
Taraiwa atu ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Pirongia – Te Pokapū o Pirongia (1 meneti)
J
J
Pirongia Zone Overview (Central Pirongia)
Te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Pirongia (Te Pokapū o Pirongia)
Park at the car park.
Whakatūria tō waka i te tūnga waka.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Playground nearbyHe papa tākaro
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk south into town, to Stop 2 (about 2 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga ki te tāone, ki te Tūnga 2 (tōna 2 meneti)
K
K
Pirongia Stop 2 (King Tāwhiao and Early Settlement)
Te Tūnga 2 i Pirongia (Kīngi Tāwhiao me te Nohoanga Tōmua)
Discover the place where King Tāwhiao (the second Māori King) in 1881 laid down arms and declared the end of warfare in this land, and hear about the establishment of the township.
Tūhuratia te wāhi i whakamoea ai e Kīngi Tāwhiao (te Kīngi Māori tuarua) tāna rākau i te tau 1881, i kīia hoki ai e ia kua mutu te pakanga i tēnei whenua. Ka rongo anō koe i ngā kōrero mō te whakatūnga o te tāone.
Pushchairs OKE whakaae ana ngā waka pēpi
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Continue walking through the town, to Stop 3 (5 min)
Whīkoi tonu i te tāone ki te Tūnga 3 (5 meneti)
L
L
Pirongia Stop 3 (Alexandra Redoubt)
Te Tūnga 3 i Pirongia (Te Rāihe o Arekahānara)
Stand atop this still impressive fortification and learn about the string of defensive sites built near the King Country frontier, following the British Crown’s 1863-4 invasion of the Waikato.
E tū i runga i tēnei rāihe whakamīharo me te ako i ngā wāhi wawao i whakatūria ai i te wāhi e tata ana ki te Rohe Pōtae i muri mai i te whakaeke a te Karauna ki te rohe o Waikato i te tau 1863 me te tau 1864.
Walk to Aubin Close (8 min), where you will find Stop 4
Whīkoi ki te ara o Aubin (8 meneti), ka kite koe i te Tūnga 4
M
M
Pirongia Stop 4 (Alexandra East Redoubt)
Te Tūnga 4 i Pirongia (Te Rāihe o Te Rāwhiti o Arekahānara)
Learn about the British Crown soldiers who were based at this redoubt and what an archeological dig on this site uncovered.
Ka ako koe i ngā kōrero mō ngā hōia Pākehā a te Karauna i noho i tēnei rāihe me ngā mea i huraina i konei e tētehi keringa mātai whaipara whenua.
Walk back to the carpark (5 min)
E hoki ki te tūnga waka (5 meneti)
Day 2: Cambridge
Te Rā 2: Cambridge
N
N
Start at the Cambridge Zone Overview (Whitaker St Carpark)
Tīmata i te Tirohanga Whānui o Kēmureti (Te Tūnga Waka o Te Tiriti o Whitaker)
If you’re travelling from Te Awamutu Museum, allow a 30 minute drive to get to this first stop. Park at the carpark.
Mehemea e haere ana koe i te Whare Taonga o Te Awamutu, whakawāteahia kia 30 meneti mō te haere atu ki te tūnga tuatahi. Whakatūria tō waka i te tūnga waka.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Cross the road to Stop 2, St Andrew’s Anglican Church (2 min)
Whakawhiti i te rori ki te Tūnga 2, ki te Whare Karakia Mihingare o Hato Ānaru (2 meneti)
O
O
Cambridge Stop 2 (St Andrew’s Anglican Church)
Te Tūnga 2 i Kēmureti (Te Whare Karakia Mihingare o Hato Ānaru)
Learn how the township of Cambridge was established as a military settlement, following the British Crown’s 1863-4 invasion of the Waikato.
Ka ako koe i ngā kōrero mō te āhua o te whakatū i te tāone o Kēmureti hei nohonga hōia i muri mai i te whakaeke a te Karauna ki te rohe o Waikato i te tau 1863 me te tau 1864.
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk south on Victoria St, to Stop 3 (10 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga i te tiriti o Victoria, ki te Tūnga 3 (10 meneti)
P
P
Cambridge Stop 3 (Native Land Court)
Te Tūnga 3 i Kēmureti (Te Kōti Whenua Māori)
Visit the site of the Native Land Court, which brought much activity to Cambridge from 1866, dealing with serious issues around Māori land ownership in the aftermath of the war. Also, hear about the 10 Star Redoubt the 3rd Waikato Regiment built near here in 1864.
Haere ki te wāhi i tū ai Te Kōti Whenua Māori, nāna i nui ai te mahi i Kēmureti mai i te tau 1866. Ko tāna mahi he whakatau i ngā take nui e pā ana ki te rangatiratanga Māori o te whenua i muri i te pakanga. Waihoki, whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō te Rāihe 10 Whetū i hangaia ai e te Hapū Hōia Tuatoru o Waikato i te tau 1864.
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Walk south, across the bridge, to Stop 4 (10 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga, whakawhitihia te arawhata ki te Tūnga 4 (10 meneti)
Q
Q
Cambridge Stop 4 (Riverbank)
Te Tūnga 4 i Kēmureti (Te Takatika o Te Awa)
Overlook the Waikato River, part of an important Māori trade route before the war. Then hear why the soldiers built a base by the river, at Pukerimu in 1864.
Tirohia atu te awa o Waikato, tētehi o ngā wāhanga nui o te ara tauhokohoko Māori i mua i te pakanga. Whakarongo ki te take i hangaia ai e ngā hōia tētehi puni i te taha o te awa, i te Pukerimu, i te tau 1864.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Picnic areas nearbyHe wāhi pikiniki
Return to the carpark (22 min)E hoki ki te tūnga waka (22 meneti)
Drive to the Don Rowlands Centre (12 min)
Taraiwa ki te Don Rowlands Centre (12 meneti)
Day 2 Continued: Karāpiro
Te Rā 2: Karāpiro
R
R
Head to Karāpiro Zone Overview (Mighty River Domain)
Haere ki te Wāhi Tirohanga Whānui o Karāpiro (Mighty River Domain)
Park in the carpark beside the Podium Cafe.
Whakatūria tō waka i te tūnga waka kei te taha o te Podium Cafe.
Parking nearbyTūnga waka
Toilets nearbyHe wāhi whare iti
Cafe nearbyHe toa hoko kawhe
Playground nearbyHe papa tākaro
Swimming zones nearbyHe wāhi kaukau
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Swimming zones nearbyHe wāhi kaukau
Walk south along Te Awa trail, to Stop 2 (12 min)
Whīkoi whakatetonga i te ara o Te Awa, ki te Tūnga 2 (12 meneti)
S
S
Karāpiro Stop 2 (Taumatawīwī Battle Site)
Te Tūnga 2 i Karāpiro (Te Pakanga o Taumatawīwī)
Learn about the battle that culminated around this cliff face in 1830 – one of the last times traditional Māori weapons were used in warfare.
Ākona ngā kōrero mō te pakanga i puta i te takiwā o tēnei pari i te tau 1830. Koinei tētehi o ngā pakanga whakamutunga i whakamahia ai ngā rākau Māori.
Bikes OKE whakaaetia ana te pahikara
Return to carpark (12 min)E hoki ki te tūnga waka (12 meneti).
Drive across the dam to Stop 5 (3 min)
Whakawhitihia te pāwai ki te Tūnga 5 (3 meneti)
Karāpiro Stop 5 (Outlook Over Dam)
Te Tūnga 5 i Karāpiro (Tirohanga atu i te Pāwai)
Hear about Te Tiki o Te Ihingarangi, a pā (Māori settlement) dating to the 1600s that had strategic importance during the British Crown’s 1863-4 invasion of the Waikato.
Whakarongo ki ngā kōrero mō Te Tiki o Te Ihingārangi, tētehi pā nō te rautau 1600, me tōna hiranga ā-rautaki i te wā o te urutomo a te Karauna ki roto i te rohe o Waikato i te tau 1863 me te tau 1864.
