Many readers may wonder what happened at the Battle of Rangiaowhia which has caused such debate in The Sun. A couple of correspondents feel that the facts should not get in the way of a good story and are highly offended when it is suggested that they should have to provide evidence to support their claims.
Rangiaowhia is near Te Awamutu and was a supply village, supplying food to the Kingite garrisons. Standard war practice is cut off supplies to to the enemy. General Cameron outflanked the Kingites' heavy defences at Paterangi and Rangiatea and attacked Rangiaowhia on the morning of 21 February 1864. The maoris recovering from the astonishment of the attack took cover in the raupo huts and opened fire on the cavalrymen. The Forest Rangers under the command of Captain Von Tempsky found the the Catholic church crammed with armed maoris, who showed a white flag and so were pressed no more. The English church was filled with maoris with some shooting through the windows. When they found the walls weren't bulletproof they escaped through the swamps. The action then centred round a whare the floor of which had been excavated down to form a rifle pit. An effort was made to storm the whare resulting in the deaths of Sergeant McHale who was dragged inside, Colonel Nixon was shot through the lungs and mortally wounded and Trooper Alexander shot through the throat. The whare was now on fire, probably ignited by powder flash and burning wadding. The flames drove several combatants from the whare, some still firing their weapons and one trying to surrender, who were shot. The smoking ruins of the whare contained the charred bodies of Sergeant McHale and seven maori. Casualties of the battle are recorded as Maori: 12 killed including including chiefs Hoani and Ihaia and two daughters of Kereopa Te Rau. European: 3 killed and 2 mortally wounded. 30 prisoners, some wounded, were also taken.
This was a battle hard fought by both sides and certainly not the massacre 144 maori as claimed by one correspondent.

References; The New Zealand Wars by James Cowan Volume 1
Landscapes of Conflict by Nigel Prickett.
The Penguin History of NZ by Michael King
NZ Book of Events. Consulting Editors include Dr Ranganui Walker.

Richard Prince, Welcome Bay.