The Waikato War of 1863-64 a Guide to the Main Events and Sites
The Waikato War of 1863-64 A guide to the main events and sites Neville Ritchie About historic battlefields There have been numerous wars and skirmishes on New Zealand soil between Maori groups prior to European settlement, and the colonial wars between Maori and European forces. Each battle affected the history and development of this nation to varying degrees and, in many instances, left tangible evidence on the landscape such as Maori pa, European fortifications and cemeteries. Historic battlefields evoke strong emotions of patriotism, sacrifice, valour, brutality and humanity. Unfortunately, the evidence of past battlefields is disappearing as urban development and modern farming practices modify the landscapes that dictated troop manoeuvres and positions, and ultimately, the outcomes of bat- tles, campaigns, and wars. It is important to protect and interpret battlefields and sites that influenced the course of our history, and to raise awareness of the importance of preserving them for future generations. The author Dr Neville Ritchie is the Department of Conservation's Waikato Conservancy archaeologist and is based in Hamilton. His previous works include Coromandel Gold, written in conjunction with Phil Moore. Acknowledgements Other DOC staff have contributed to the text and production of this booklet, notably (the late) Owen Wilkes, Bruce Postill, Des Williams and Bev Taylor. The Te Awamutu Museum assisted with historical information and allowed photo- graphs in their collection to be reproduced. Eris Parker of the Cambridge Mu- seum provided information about sites around Cambridge. My thanks to Waikato kaumatua, Buddy Te Whare and Tui Adams for commenting on the text from a Maori perspective.
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