- Battle of Ohaeawai
The Battle of Ohaeawai was fought between British forces and local
Māori during July 1845 atOhaeawai in theNorth Island ofNew Zealand . The battle was notable in that superior British forces were beaten by outnumbered Māori.The battle happened during the
Flagstaff War where it is described at length. A combined force of British Troops and Māori allies attacking aMāori Pa or fortress. After a desultory bombardment the British commander, Colonel Despard, grew impatient and ordered a frontal assault. Over a third of his force was quickly killed or injured. Māori who fought with the British were not impressed.Having made their point the local Māori withdrew a few days later.
After the battle two models were made of the ingenious design of the pa. One went to Britain and sat forgotten in a museum. The other travelled around the various Māori tribes of New Zealand where it was studied with interest. It became the basis of what is called the "Modern Pa", a design allowing aggressive-defensive tactics that the British Army never successfully cracked.
More Information
* Belich, James (1988). "The New Zealand wars". Penguin.
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