The Orakau Pa

Orakau was an unfortunate accident for the Kingites. Newly arrived Ataua unhappy at missing out on previous battles chose to build a pa in a poorly positioned site.

It was easily surrounded, had no esacpe route, and was incomplete. to make matters worse it had little food and no water.

To compound matters they were surprised and had no chance to send their women away.

That Cameron killed 80 odd Maori was some consolation but the escape of Rewi Maniapoto was a dissappointment.