BATTLE OF TE RANGA – June 21st 1864
Year 10 classes visited the Te Ranga battle site earlier this month, attended by guest speaker and historian Buddy Mikaere (below).
Then on Sunday 21st of June, a commemoration service was held onsite where our Head Students laid a wreath in memory of the fallen. This was followed by a morning tea for around 70 guests at Aquinas, including local Maori, the two district Mayors, and local MP representatives. Mayor Tenby Powell gave a commitment from Tauranga City Council to develop the site.
(From SunLive News)
“…Mia Thomas, the Aquinas College student who won the Te Ranga Aquinas College poetry competition read her poem titled ‘He Mate Kohuru – A Treacherous Murder from the perspective of Hori Ngatai’. The poignant words reflect the despair as the Maori garrison realised they were being ambushed by numbers too great, but continue to fight on.
Trevel Gardner-Hano and Nic Scott, also students from Aquinas College read ‘Mo te Hunga – For the Fallen’…
This poem, by Year 10 student Mia Thomas, won the $100 book voucher prize from Buddy Mikaere, for the commemoration of the Battle of Te Ranga, 21 June 1864. Mia also read the poem at the commemoration service on Sunday 21st June 2020.
He Mate Kohuru – A Treacherous Murder
From the perspective of Hori Ngātai
They tell me to dig,
I dig without spirit,
this is not where the Pā should be
Kari, Kari, Kari
I hear the enemy
They’ve come early,
Our defences are woefully lacking
Kari, Kari, Kari
Their numbers are too great
We are not prepared
We must wait for the others
Kari, Kari, Kari
This is an ambush
We lay down our tools and reach for our weapons.
Enough! We fight
Patu, Patu, Patu
The enemy advance
Their weapons are mighty
They are ready
We are not
Pako, Pako, Pako
We fight with honor
We fight with mana
We fight with hope
Kakari, Kakari, Kakari
Our brothers are falling
Our comrades are late
Victory is impossible
Taui, Taui, Taui
Puhirake lays lifeless
Taratoa has passed on
Kua hinga ngā tōtara haemata
Taui, Taui, Taui
We must retreat if we are to survive
Too much loss
Too much suffering
Kua parekura te hoariri e tatou
He Mate Kohuru – A treacherous murder.
By Mia Thomas
Taui = Retreat
Patu = Hit
Pako = Bang
Parekura = Massacre
Kari = Dig
Kakari = Fight
Kua hinga ngā tōtara haemata = The strong growing tōtara have fallen
Kua parekura te hoariri e tatou = We have been slaughtered by the enemy
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