Iwi leaders and government officials will gather in Te Awamutu on Tuesday to commemorate 150 years since the Battle of Orakau in the Waikato War.
About 150 Maori and 17 British troops died during the battle in the mid 1860s.
Orakau brought iwi together under the mantle of the Kingitanga to defend their sovereignty.
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell said the battle was significant for his own people, and for those iwi who helped Ngati Maniapoto, Tainui whanui and Tuhoe.
The battle was huge in terms of developing relationships between tribes, Mr Flavell said.
It was important battles which had happened historically in New Zealand were commemorated as much as those that occurred overseas, he said.
