Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata will be in Tauranga this month to speak at the Battle of Gate Pa 150th Commemoration Dinner on April 28.

Held the night before the official battle commemorations on April 29, Willie will be a guest speaker at the Commemoration Dinner at Trinity Wharf.

Willie Apiata will be the guest of honour at the Commemoration Dinner.

The limited, paid ticket event will also include a performance by the New Zealand Army Band – and guests have been invited to wear black tie or period costume in keeping with a traditional 1864-theme menu.

The Battle of Gate Pa was one of the most significant battles in the Maori Land Wars. Two soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery after the battle, says Commemoration project director Buddy Mikaere.

'We are honoured that Willie Apiata is part of our Commemoration, as he represents the essence of the soldiers that fought on both sides of the battle.”

Buddy says the Battle of Gate Pa and the Tauranga fighting of 1864 is significant because it led to the confiscation of Maori land on the Te Papa peninsula, thereby allowing the creation of the city of Tauranga.

'Recent Treaty settlements with Tauranga iwi have gone some way towards redressing this long standing grievance and these commemorations can truly be a time of reconciliation.

'By understanding our history, we can see how far our community has come and look forward to our future together.”

Commemoration dinner attendees will include Maori and Pakeha descendants of those who took part in the battle, government ministers, NZ Defence Force staff, representatives of the United Kingdom Defence Force, senior iwi representatives, mayors and councillors.

Many guests will also be participating in the official commemoration on April 29, which includes a dawn blessing of new pou and flagpole, a full military service at the Mission Cemetery, a military march to the Gate Pa Reserve up Cameron Rd, massed wero and haka by iwi in response and an Ecumenical service and ceremony at Gate Pa Reserve.

The general public are invited to these free events on April 29 and further information can be found at www.battleofgatepa.com