Battle of Moremonui

The Ngāti Whātua force ambushed the Ngāpuhi, and won the battle, which occurred at Moremonui Gully where it enters Ripirō Beach, 19 kilometres (12 miles) south of Maunganui Bluff on the west coast of Northland.

The battle of Moremonui was preceded by skirmishes in 1806 between Ngāpuhi in the north, led by one of their rangatira (chiefs), Pokaia, on one side, and Kaipara subtribes of Ngāti Whātua in the south on the other.

Tāoho had connections with Ngāpuhi and, not wishing to completely annihilate them, ordered that a line be drawn in the sand of the beach, beyond which Ngāti Whātua warriors were not to pursue them.

[4] Among the dead were Hongi Hika's older brother Houwawe, his half-brother Hau Moka, and his sister Waitapu, whose body was mutilated to symbolise stopping the line of descent.

Although only a small number of firearms were used, Moremonui could reasonably be called the first battle of the Musket Wars, as a thirst for utu (justice through revenge)[6] motivated Hongi Hika's campaigns against the Ngāti Whātua over the next twenty years.