14 Aug 2013

Te Wherowhero - Part 7: Attack on Kawhia

From the collecton The Wednesday Drama

Cut off from his allies and encircled by his enemies, Te Rauparaha was forced to evacuate his outer defences around Kawhia harbour and fall back into his inner defensive citadel, at Taharoa lake. At this critical stage in his entire body broke out in boils: he had to hand command of Ngati Toa and their allies to his nephew, Te Rangihaeata. After lively discussion within his council of war, it's decided to fight it out on the field of Te Kakara, the flat land at the western end of Taharoa Lake.