Defence of Pukekohe East

Kingitanga involved adopting European culture in order to preserve their own people: Kingites established a newspaper, a bank, and a parliament, as well as electing a king.

These last two actions were seen as threatening British sovereignty, leading Governor Sir George Grey to invade the Waikato.

In the 1830s, those Māori who had lived closest were defeated by Hongi Hika's Ngāpuhi iwi, the survivors abandoning their settlements and retreating south.

Families of farmers built houses and began to clear the land but this process was far from complete when war broke out.The young settlement included many Presbyterian Scots.

The church stands on the high ground of the crater rim, in what would have been a natural defensive position, but for the dense bush which still came uncomfortably close, except to the south, where land had been cleared for a cemetery.

On Sunday 12 July 1863 General Cameron's Army advanced into Waikato territory from its frontier base of Pōkeno.

The settlers of Pukekohe East, a few miles away, received no official notice; they were informed that afternoon by Reverend Norrie, who had conducted a service for the soldiers.

The Auckland area north of the self-proclaimed Māori border became a hive of military activity and guerilla warfare for many months.

On Wednesday 14 July, two settlers at nearby Ramarama were killed by Māori raiders, which illustrated the vulnerability of Pukekohe East.

Throughout August distant shots were heard as Māori killed cattle for food but they always escaped before the troops or militia arrived.

[2] The stockade was built 10 feet (3.0 m) from the wall of the church, excepting small bastions on the north-western and south-eastern corners, to allow enfilading fire.

The walls were made of small logs – on average 6 inches (150 mm) in diameter – just enough to stop a musket ball.

The 10 acres (40,000 m2) around the church was cleared in the days before the attack, but large stumps and low growth left, providing cover and concealment.

The party launched an abortive attack on the Alexandra Redoubt, then marched to the north, keeping inside bush to the west of Pōkeno, where they spent the night.