A MAORI WARS QUARTET 1

Background - British forces, under General Cameron, were slowly building supplies and manpower to assault the main Kingite Maori position at Meremere. This build up was severely hampered by a well directed war behind the lines, conducted from hidden Maori positions in the bush to the south of the British. One of the main British supply routes was along the Waikato river by canoe, utilising the small shanty at Camerontown as a base. Camerontown was held by pro-British Maori under James Armitage (the local magistrate) and chiefs Te Wheoro and Waata Kukutai, backed up by British troops in a blockhouse nearby. Kingite forces from the Ngati Maniapoto tribe decided to destroy the supplies stockpiled at Camerontown.

The Battlefield - Use a 4' x 4' board. Along one edge should be the Waikato river, crossable only by boat, with a bank of mixed mangrove swamp and open mud. Next to the river is a small, scruffy shanty town (Camerontown) with a mix of about 8 European and Maori buildings. The town is surrounded by patches of light and dense woods. There is a jetty on the river, and a muddy track from the edge of the jetty leads off the board towards the British redoubt (off table). The local Maori have a small, and not very formidable pa in one corner of the table overlooking the river.

The Forces
Kingite Maori (Ngati Maniapoto) Tokohihi - mighty warrior, rifle, mere Kingi - warrior, shotgun, hatchet Te Rore - warrior, shotgun, knife Te Hapurona - mighty warrior, musket, cavalry sword Wiremu - warrior, musket, revolver Winitana - warrior, hatchet, musket Ropati - young blood, rifle, revolver, knife Kenana - young blood, shotgun, hatchet Tareha - young blood, musket The Kings' men have landed in three canoes and both men and canoes may be deployed hidden at the start of the game in any convenient piece of bush outside the town and more than 12" from the pa. The canoes cannot be discovered by the Colonial Forces, but to escape Ngati Maniapoto must return to their canoes (or capture fresh ones).	Government Forces In the pa - pro British Maori: Te Wheoro - Warrior, shotgun, mere Topia - young blood, musket, hatchet Rongomai - young blood, musket, hatchet Heni - warrior, enfield, knife The remainder of the defenders are assumed to have fled the town as soon as the Ngati Maniapoto arrived.
	Arriving in two canoes at the jetty as soon as Armitage's card is drawn: James Armitage - citizen, revolver Peka Browne - citizen, enfield Henare Oaks - young blood, hatchet Wilson - citizen, musket Biggs - gunman, enfield, knife
	British Infantry May arrive two moves after the alarm is given (see below). When they become eligible to arrive, shuffle McKenna's card into the pack and when the card appears they all march onto the board in one formation as a normal move. They must appear within 12" of the road entrance. Colour Sergeant McKenna - Shootist, enfield, bayonet, revolver Private Jones - gunman, enfield, bayonet Private Hanmer - gunman, enfield, bayonet Private Williams - gunman, enfield, bayonet Private Taylor - citizen, enfield, bayonet Private Morrison - gunman, enfield, bayonet Private Sykes - gunman, enfield, bayonet

Alarm is given by either one of Armitage's or Te Wheoro's men escaping off the field along the redoubt road, or by columns of smoke from 2 or more burning buildings.

The Ngati Maniapoto may set a building on fire by spending an action with it. Two or more men must be in contact with a building, but any or either action card can be used to set fire to it. Roll a die, needing to set the fire a 6 the first time, a 5 or 6 the second time etc. Once burning a fire cannot be put out.

Victory Conditions. If Ngati Maniapoto can burn down more than half the buildings in the town and seriously wound or kill more than half of the Government forces which appear, they win. The Government wins if it prevents more than half the buildings being burnt and drives the Kingite troops out of the town by the end of the game.

What Actually Happened?

Ngati Maniapoto stormed into Camerontown, scattering the surprised and unenthusiastic defenders (most of whom disappeared into the bush) and firing commissariat stores. They also set off towards the pa and destroyed the fortifications. At this point, Armitage with a few men in canoes, arrived and was ambushed by the Maori, Armitage and his men were killed. British troops arriving from the redoubt then charged into the town, assuming the Maoris were drunk on captured rum. This proved to be a ruse, and they were met with a well timed volley from the raiders, losing most of their leaders and fleeing back towards the redoubt. Camerontown was destroyed along with 40 tons of supplies, and the Waikato River supply line surgically cut.

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