Remembering the Battle - Commemorating the Battle of Gate

The Anglican Parish of Gate Pā invites you to a short service at St. Georges Anglican Church to commemorate the Battle of Gate Pa and to honour all those who fought and died in this tragic event.

Our service will start at 4pm, when the British forces began their march up Pukehinahina. We will hear an account of the battle and then have a time of silent reflection with images playing. At 4.30 the bell will be rung 60 times to remember the approximately 60 men who lost their lives in the battle. We will finish with prayers/karakia for the future of our city.

This year Buddy Mikaere will be speaking about the work being done to establish Te Pūtake O Te Riri - Pukehinahina Gate Pa - the New Zealand Land Wars centre which will of course have a focus on 1864 and the battles at Pukehinahina - Gate Pa and Te Ranga.

And the successors to the 68th Durham Light Infantry, The Rifles, are hopeful of offering a video remembering their role on this day.

This will be followed by refreshments in the lounge.

We are offering this as one thing that will happen on this day. We would really like to hear of other events that might happen. Our facilities are available if you have other ideas about what might be able to be held. We would also be really grateful if you could advertise this in your networks. I have a poster for this years' service if you want a copy.

Because St. Georges Church sits on the site of the Battle of Gate Pā we feel a sense of responsibility for holding the story of both the battles and the aftermath with integrity, and to offer ways the people can hear about, engage with and reflect upon these stories and what they mean for us living in Tauranga Moana.

2014 saw huge gatherings commemorate the 150th anniversary of the battles of Gate Pā and Te Ranga with some very significant events held on the actual days of the battles. It continues to be our hope that these would be the beginning of some ongoing events for the people of this city to engage with the story of the New Zealand Land Wars and our colonial past and how these shape present-day New Zealand society.

We offer this simple service as a contribution to this ongoing commemoration. It may be that other groups will offer other events as well.