11
TRUST WA I KATO
ANNUAL REPORT
2 0 1 4
This historic battle is an amazing story, not unlike
that of ‘Colonel Custer’s Last Stand’ in American
history. Founded in 2009, the Battle of O-Rākau
Heritage Society was initially formed to take up the
challenge of ensuring that “the sacrifices of those who
fought and fell at O-Rākau are respected”. Most of the
society’s members are descendants of the original
defenders of O-Rākau Pā, who instigated an annual
commemoration for the battle in 2010 in an effort to
ensure that it, and their tupuna’s sacrifices, retained
a proper profile in the nation’s history.
The 150-year commemoration on 1 and 2 April 2014,
had particular significance, but for the Heritage
Society, this was about far more than remembering
and honouring the many people, including children,
who died during the fighting. In the words of the
Society’s founding president, Kawhia Te Murahi, the
day of tribute was also:
an opportunity to examine how we can work
together in meaningful ways to break down
barriers to cultural understanding and in line with
the partnership promised in Te Tiriti o Waitangi,
create a future worthy of the legacy and sacrifices
made by those who died at O-Rākau and on
battlefields across our country.
The 150th commemorations were a truly collaborative
effort, with the Heritage Society’s planning supported
by tangata whenua (Raukawa ki Panehākua and
Wharepuhunga), other local hapū and marae, the
New Zealand Historic Places Trust and Waipa
District Council.
A commemorative service at the pā and battle site
on the day was attended by more than 5,000 people.
There were addresses and services by His Excellency
Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry
Mateparae GNZM, QSO Governor-General of
New Zealand and The Rt Hon. John Key, Prime
Minister of New Zealand, among others.
The following day people gathered again at the battle
site, for a hikoi following the escape route to the river
with poignant story telling to honour past events.
Prior to the day, the Heritage Society had been
busy preparing the site including beautifying the
memorial grounds. With the 150-year commemoration
now behind them, the Battle of O-Rākau Heritage
Society has turned its thoughts to the future, with its
aspirations for the memorial site evolving to include
an extended historic site, iwi reserve and visitor
learning centre. Their vision is that O-Rākau will
become:
O-Rākau, a place where the enduring power of
storytelling will capture, inform and transform
the minds of visitors while sowing the seeds of
cultural understanding, peace, reconciliation and
hope. In this place, voices of the past will resonate
through the corridors of time speaking directly
into the hearts and minds of future generations,
telling of suffering, of loss, of truths untold, of
courage, of heroism and the determination of a
people to be free.
Trust Waikato was pleased to donate $10,000 towards
the Battle of O-Rākau Heritage Society’s work,
supporting its endeavours to provide a fitting 150-
year commemoration for this important event in the
Waikato region’s and nation’s history.
In this place, voices of the past
will resonate through the
corridors of time speaking
directly into the hearts and
minds of future generations.
