Orakau

Cameron had lost interest in the Waikato. He had wanted to draw the Kingite army out into open battle but had been continually frustrated over the 7 month campaign. It seemed that the King would simply continue to withdraw into the interior drawing him further and further from his base of operations. The further he progressed the more troops he needed to protect his lines of communication, the fewer he had to attack the ever larger fortifications that the Maori constructed. Remember it was only 28 years since the decimation of Napoleons Grand Army in the Russian winter. (about 10% made it back to France).

A few Maori who arrived to late for the fighting in the Waikato decided that they would defy the British and despite warnings built a quick pa at Orakau. Rewi Maniapoto was bound by family lines and loyalty to assist at the Pa. Altogether about 300 were in the fortification when the British arrived. To their surprise it lacked the back door route for an easy retreat that other Pa had. Surrounded and under siege the Maori there held out for several days. Lacking water or ammunition they ate raw kumara and fired peach pits at the British.

During the afternoon of the 31st March, 200 Tuwharetoa, under Te Heuheu Horonuku, were seen on a nearby eminence, but well-directed shellfire discouraged their attempt to relieve the pa

Offers to surrender were rejected.

Early in the afternoon of the third day, because he was impressed by the defenders' courage, Cameron sent William Mair forward with a flag of truce to urge the pa to surrender. Rewi replied, “Kaore e mau te rongo, ake, ake!” (“Peace shall never be made, never, never!”) This was conveyed to Mair by Hauraki Tonganui, a Ngati Tuwharetoa chief who was noted for his stentorian voice, and who had been conversing with Mair while Rewi considered the message.

Later another offer was made:

Mair then asked that the women and children be sent out of the pa. While Rewi was considering this, Ahumai Te Paerata, a tall handsome young woman, daughter of the old West Taupo chief Te Paerata, stood up and replied on behalf of the women: “Ki te mate nga tane, me mate ano nga wahine me nga tamariki.” (“If the men die, the women and children must die also.”)

Quotes are from: http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/O/OrakauSiegeOf/OrakauSiegeOf/en

When a 5th Assault threatened to overwhelm the palisades the defenders choose to leave. The next morning they simply walked through the cordon and then fled for the safety of a nearby swamp. Cavalry chased them down killing many but failed to kill or capture Rewi, who escaped with the bulk of the defenders.

For Maori it seemed to be a defeat but Pakeha seemed to see it as another failure. Once again the Kingites had escaped and their ability to defeat the Maori in a single great engagement.
Then word arrived that an opportunity had presented itself near Tauranga.