In the last major battle of the Waikato war, British forces attacked a Kīngitanga fortification at Ōrākau (also O-Rãkau) on 31 March 1864. After repelling several British attacks and declining to surrender, the taua attempted to retreat but suffered heavy casualties.
The fall of the pā and the semi-legendary story of Rewi Maniapoto (or another rangatira) defiantly shouting that "E hoa, ka whawhai tonu mātou, Āke! Āke! Āke! / Friend, we will fight on forever, forever and forever!" later assumed a major role in romantic mythologies of the New Zealand wars.
The pā has now been completely destroyed.
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