Battle of Rangiriri

Battle of Rangiriri
Part of New Zealand Wars
Date 20–21 November 1863 Location Rangiriri, Waikato 37°26′00″S 175°06′00″E / 37.43333°S 175.10000°E / -37.43333; 175.10000 Result British victory
Belligerents
British and New Zealand colonial forces	Māori King Movement of Waikato
Strength
1420 British regulars 3 cannons 2 gunboats	500 warriors
Casualties and losses
49 killed, 87 wounded	36 killed, 35 wounded, 183 taken prisoner

The Battle of Rangiriri was a major engagement in the invasion of Waikato, which took place on 20–21 November 1863 during the New Zealand Wars. More than 1400 British troops defeated about 500 warriors of the Kingitanga (Māori King Movement), which was resisting the expansion of British settlement and colonial rule in the North Island. The battle cost both sides more than any other engagement of the land wars and also resulted in the capture of 180 Māori prisoners, further reducing the Kingitanga ability to oppose the far larger British force.^[1]

The British success at Rangiriri and several subsequent battles opened the Waikato basin to the British forces and the government subsequently confiscated 1.3 million hectares of land for use by settlers.^[2] In 1995 the Crown apologised for its actions.