Battle of Gate Pa, Pukehinahina commemorated today

Today is Te Putake o te Riri, He Ra Maumahara - the National Day of the Commemoration of the New Zealand Wars. The day is being marked at various events around the country but in Tauranga, there will be a service at Pukehinahina, the site of the battle of Gate Pa. Pukehinahina pitted the British with local iwi Ngai Te Rangi in 1864. The event is usually held on the anniversary of the battle in April, but due to covid-19 and the first lockdown, the ceremony was postponed until today. Local historian Buddy Mikaere recently published a book on Pukehinahina and will be attending the commemoration which is known as the "60 Bell Service". Nathan Rarere asked Buddy how important Pukehinahina was to the New Zealand wars and to the people of Tauranga.