Rangiri Dead Remembered Auckland November 22nd 1963

On a low hill at Rangiriri, Maoris and Pakehas gathered on saturday to pay homage in peace to the men of both races who fell at War 100 years ago.

Almost 200 people came to take part in the Centenary celebration of the Batlle of Rangiriri.
Standing around the remains od the formidable Maori redoubt, the central fortifications of the Maori trench lines stretched across the neck of land between the Waikato River and lake Kopuware, the people heard Mr C Hunt of the Waikato Historical Society describe the action.

" On November 20th 1863 the Maori defenders of the Rangiriri redoubt held off superior British forces led by General Sir Duncan Cameron until they were encircled. When defenders who had not slipped away during the night surrendered the next morning, both sides had suffered heavy casualties and the honours of Battle had been evenly shared"

As the parade marched towards the battle site yesterday the 1963 olive green uniforms of the 16th Field regiment detachments contrasted with the Bearskins, red coats and braid of the Waikato Squadron detachment dressed in the 1863 uniforms of Infantry, Artillermen and Engineers.
Thhe parade which included a Naval party and four English Artillery men, Sgt Mitchell, Bdr Livesey and Gnrs Barnes & Weaver who represented 94 New Zealand battery, a desendant of the Artillery unit which took part in the battle as "C" Battery 4th Brigade.
1Mr P Te H Jones read the message of King Koroki -
Maori and Pakeha may be proud of those ancestors that fought with honour and mutual respect, Today we salute them......
The Govener-General Sir Bernard Fergusson said in a message "We are rejoicing in the knowledge that the two races concerened now live harmoniously together and indeed have fought shoulder to shoulder in two wars in a common cause. It is a measure of degree to which our people have grown together he said, that Maori and Pakeha can celebrate without rancour but with pride such an occasion as this".

The reverend J.H Maunsell of Frankton, a descendant of the Rev Robert Maunsell whose church was established at rangiriri before the battle, led the prayers and the rev M.A Bennet of Rotorua took the lesson.
Chaplain H.G Taylor of H.M.N.Z.S Tamaki after the choir of St Faith,s Church Ohinemutu had sung the Maori hymn "Tama Ngakau Marie" said "Today we reflect with sorrow on the needless loss of life, but we rejoice that there are now no longer two people in this land".