The New Zealand Wars: A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period: Volume II: The Hauhau Wars, (1864–72)
WORK OF THE WHAKATANE COLUMN
WORK OF THE WHAKATANE COLUMN
J. C., photo, 1921]
Te Paripari on the Upper Whakatane, Urewera Country
Lieutenant David White was shot from the opposite bank of the Whakatane River (the bush-covered terrace shown) when in the act of stepping into the water in the foreground to ford the river, leading his party of scouts, 7th May, 1869.
The force camped for the night in the captured village, and next morning (7th May) continued the advance southward up the narrow valley of the Whakatane, pent in by lofty forest-blanketed ranges. About a mile above the scene of the skirmish the force page 349 passed through the Ngati-Rongokarae village Ohaua-te-rangi, the principal settlement between Waikari-whenua and Ruatahuna. It was not occupied; the firing on the previous day had given the alarm, and it was realized that the Urewera were lying in wait at some of the narrows farther on. The force moved up the river, crossing from side to side of its gravelly bed. At Te Paripari (“The Cliffs”), about a mile above Ohaua-te-rangi, the expected volley from ambush was received. Here a small stream, the Mahaki-rua, flows in from the direction of Maungapohatu, joining the Whakatane at a ford facing a wooded terrace. St. John's advance-guard had descended to the eastern (right) bank of the river, and Lieutenant David White had just stepped into the water when a volley was fired by a large party of Maoris in ambush on the wooded bank on the opposite side, Te Paripari. The lieutenant fell in the water mortally wounded, and was picked up and was carried to the gravel-spit on the east side just above the junction of the two rivers. Heavy skirmishing now began, and lasted for several hours. White's body was buried on the manuka-covered flat in the river-bed, and Major Mair read the burial service, under a continual fire from the Hauhaus, who were in good cover, chiefly in the bush on the eastern side of the river.
Te Tupara, of Ruatoki, says that it was a man named Waikite who singled out and shot Lieutenant White, who was leading the scouts.
The Constabulary divisions chiefly engaged in the heavy skirmishing here were Nos. 1 and 2, under Captains Withers, Scannell, and Northcroft, and part of No. 4, under Captain Travers. The force advanced up the east side of the Whakatane and encountered sharp resistance on the march up over the Hukanui Hill, a steep bush ridge abutting precipitously on the right bank of the river. Low bush, scrub, and fern covered the lower part of the hill, and the defenders were strongly posted in the forest above. A party of Constabulary was detached to outflank the enemy's left, and this operation was carried out successfully. The ascent of the range was so steep that steps had to be cut with tomahawks in places. The Urewera abandoned their position on Hukanui, and fell back in the direction of Ruatahuna. Crossing a deep wooded gully, where a small stream joined the Whakatane on the east side, they took post in Te Whenuanui's pa, a strong earthwork redoubt called Tahora, about a mile beyond the top of Hukanui. The pa occupied a commanding position on a fern ridge trending at right angles to the valley of the Whakatane.
J. C., photo, 1921]
Junction of the Whakatane River and the Mahaki-rua at Te Paripari
This view shows the Mahaki-rua Stream coming in on the left, joining the Whakatane River opposite Te Paripari, which is on the proper left bank of the Whakatane. Lieutenant White was buried, under the Urewera's fire, on the manuka-clothed shingle-bank in the middle distance.