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Opotiki Cemeteries / Urupa. 1875 until 2017.
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Opotiki Cemeteries / Urupa. 1875 until 2017.
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History of Area
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Land Wars
Carl Volkner's death induced the Government to send a punitive expedition to Opotiki in September 1865 and from the time of its landing there was a continuing campaign waged throughout the surrounding country.
About 500 troops were brought from the Land Wars in Taranaki and the Waikato. The campaign increased in intensity when Te Kooti escaped from Wharekauri [ The Chatham Islands] in 1868. His association with the area remains strong. Many Tangatawhenua follow the Ringatu faith today. Te Kooti finally surrendered in 1868 and he died at Ohiwa in 1897.
Major engagements were fought. There were skirmishes on the sand hills, and a cavalry charge took place on land by the Waioeka Straight. Battles occurred in the hills behind Waioeka.
Tarata Pa engagement saw 35 Maori and 3 Pakeha Soldiers killed.
At this time Hiona Church in the township of Opotiki, was fortified, and provisioned with stores.
A cemetery had been established nearby - now the Old Military Cemetery, Kelly Street.
Intermittent Skirmishes continued between 1866 and 1868. In the year 1867 the Opotiki Volunteer Rangers formed under Henry Mair and later Armed Constabulary were stationed in Opotiki.
Updated on
Mar 20, 2011
by
Sonia Edwards
(Version
11
)