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Battle of Ohaeawai
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The Battle of Ohaeawai was fought between British forces and local Maori during July 1845 at Ohaeawai in the North Island of New Zealand.
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The Battle of Ohaeawai was fought between British forces and local Maori during July 1845 at Ohaeawai in the North Island of New Zealand. The battle was notable in that superior British forces were beaten by outnumbered Maori.
The battle happened during the Flagstaff War where it is described at length. A combined force of British Troops and Maori allies attacking a Maori 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. Maori who fought with the British were not impressed.
Having made their point the local Maori 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 Maori 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.
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