On Tuesday our Year 5-8 students visited St. George’s Church and the Gate Pā Historic Reserve to learn all about the Battle of Pukehinahina.

This visit supported the learning we have been doing in class around Aotearoa New Zealand History. Our tamariki enjoyed listening to Reverend John Hebenton sharing stories of our local history, completing a Scavenger Hunt as well as photographing and sketching significant features of the battle site. 

Here is what some of our students had to say: 

Merida Jenkins: “The most interesting thing for me was when the Maori placed their flag at the back of the trenches to trick the British soldiers. I also found it interesting that the Maori people went out after the fighting to give water to the injured British Soldiers”

Liam Fitch: “I enjoyed learning how many Christians there were in Tauranga before the wars and that the Missionaries and Maori were working well together building churches, schools and gardens. “

Charlotte Thom: “ I liked listening to Reverend John to all of the history stories. I learned that Heni Te Kirikaramu gave water to the injured British Soldiers.”

Tarika Iyer: “I learned a lot in the church about the history of Pukehinahina. The Maori were sharing their land with the missionaries and farming and growing crops. The British were getting greedy and wanted more land and more authority over the Maori.”