File:Relief of Pipriki, July-August 1865 (26389110446).jpg

In April 1865, the Crown established a military post at Pipiriki, fifty-five miles up the Whanganui River, in order to block the passage of Māori hapū of the Upper Whanganui (many who were Pai Mārire adherents, also known as ‘Hauhau’). Pipiriki was chosen as it was where many overland tracks from the eastern part of the Island reached the great inland waterway. For some years there had been a Church mission school at Pipiriki; there was a flour-mill driven by water-power, and there was a considerable amount of cultivation on both sides of the river. According to historian James Cowan, ‘It was a kind of advanced frontier post, beyond which the chiefs of old Māoridom held undisputed rule.’

Pipiriki consisted of three earthwork redoubts built close to each other. ‘The main work, No. 1 Redoubt, was built on the ridge at the bend of the Whanganui near the prominent wooded hill called Rangiahua, overlooking the river; there was a much better site, but it was a Māori wahi tapu, or burial-place, and so was not occupied. The second redoubt, Popoia, was built on a spur, a little to the north-west of Rangiahua Hill, nearly opposite the present steamer landing-place; and No. 3 Redoubt was thrown up on the south side, close to an ancient native pā called Koanga-o-Rehua, and about 500 yards from No. 1 Redoubt.’

Once built, Pipiriki was garrisoned by colonial troops of the Taranaki Military Settlers. Topia Peehi Turoa – a powerful rangatira of Ngāti Patu-tokotoko hapū of Te Ati Haunui-a-Paparangi – regarded this as a challenge and responded by assembling some 1,000 Whanganui, Ngāti Pehi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Ngāti Raukawa at Pukehinau and Ohinemutu. On 19 July 1865, these combined forces besieged Pipiriki for 12 days, establishing numerous rifle pits around the redoubt and launching a number of attacks. Their principal position was Pukehinau pā, while another camp was at Ohinemutu.

Surrounded, the Crown forces sent messages written in both French and Latin in bottles down river, while two soldiers also slipped down river by canoe. One of these bottle-letters survived the rapids and the rocks was picked up below Whanganui Town by Mr. G. F. Allen and delivered to the Militia Office in Whanganui.

In the meantime, a relief force of both Crown and kupapa Māori combatants had already been dispatched, leaving for Pipiriki on 26 July. However before they arrived Turoa and the besieging Māori had already withdrawing beyond Ohinemutu. One consequence of this action was the exclusion of Turoa's father from Governor Grey's general pardon of October 1865.

The drawing above comes from a military file on the siege of Pipiriki, and shows the proposed plan of action for the relief force which left on 26 July. It shows the position of the three redoubts in blue, rifle pits and the position of Turoa, Ohinemutu village, and other local landmarks. Also in the file is a report of the relief, and a copy of the note sent downriver to Whanganui.

Archives Reference: AD1 Box 23/ CD1865/2238 archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24088732

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