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     Battle 

          at the Gate 

by Jenny Jenkins 

Published by Penguin Books 

A children’s history story about 

the Battle of Gate Pa, 

fought in Tauranga in 1864. 

This sensitively told story teaches the values of bravery, kindness and forgiveness, and promotes racial reconciliation.

On April 29, 1864 the Battle of Gate Pa (Pukehinahina) was fought between British troops and the Ngai te Rangi Iwi led by Rawiri Puhirake.  Outnumbered by eight to one, the 225 Maori warriors routed the British soldiers upon their initial charge into the pa. They fired on them from hidden trenches at close range, then appeared suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, to fight. Most of the officers were killed or wounded during the approach and entry into the pa, and the leaderless men panicked and fled when warriors re-entering the pa from the rear were thought to be reinforcements from another tribe.

Under cover of darkness the warriors prepared to leave. The sole woman in the pa, Heni Te Kirikaramu, heard the cry of a wounded soldier calling for water. At the risk of her life she carried water to him and helped him to drink. 

This story is poignantly told by Jenny Jenkins. Presented as a picture book with graphic illustrations by Bruce Potter, this story, although written for 7 to 12 year olds, captures the attention of all ages with its mix of action, tension and compassion.

‘Battle at the Gate’ RRP $19 (ISBN 9781869780579) 

Sorry, this book has sold out as a paperback.

Selected pages from the story are available for viewing.

This book may be loaned from your local library.

A play for school students aged between 8 and 16, telling the story of the Battle of Gate Pa from the perspective of 4 different individuals, can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/gatepareport/home

Other New Zealand History Stories by Jenny Jenkins

 are available free at:  www.valueslessonsnz.com