A MAORI WARS QUARTET 2

Escape from Orakau Pa, 2nd April 1864 by Nick Stock (NZ)

Background - A force from several Kingite tribes entrenched at Orakau, close to rich farming country recently seized by the British. The Maoris included representatives of Tuhoe (the Children of the Mist) who had recently arrived in the theatre and were not keen to retreat without trying their arms against the British. The pa site was however isolated, and the defenders were quickly surrounded. Although the Maoris beat off 5 attacks their losses were mounting and supplies dwindling. At this point, they resolved to escape by making for nearby bush whilst the British were focusing their attention on mining the opposite corner of the fort. The first stage went well. In a column they rushed out of the pa, warriors in the front and women and children in the centre. Witholding their fire, the Maori formation surprised and burst through the British cordon (the 40th Foot). The Maori then reached a clump of manuka bush, where they split into small parties and sought to make their escape through a mostly dried out raupo swamp. However, the pursuit was now on, with Colonial militia in the lead, eager to prove themselves far more adept at 'bush warfare' than their regular colleagues.

Note - This game is best played by 4 players, two each on the British and Maori side, competing against each other for the greatest success. This is also an opportunity to try out your cavalry (good luck!)

The Battlefield - 4' x 6' is about right, with a clump of woodland in the middle of one of the short sides (the manuka bush) and thick woods all along the other short side (sanctuary). In between, scatter half a dozen small patches of dense woods, and a dozen larger patches of dense scrub (this was a mainly dried out raupo swamp). Bisect the field with a few zig zag muddy ditches. These are obstacles, and can be used for cover, but can be crossed on foot or jumped on horseback. A few lightly marked trails complete the terrain. There should be no open fields of fire completely crossing the board.

The Forces
Maori Forces	Colonial Forces
Rewi's Party Rewi Maniapoto - Mighty Warrior - shotgun, mere Te Teke - Warrior - enfield, bowie knife Makaore - Warrior - shotgun, hatchet Woman - Citizen - musket Child - Citizen - musket	Detachment 2 company, Forest Rangers Lt J.M. "Deerfoot" Roberts - Legend - revolver, sword Ranger Smith - Shootist - Terry & Calisher carbine (single shot breech loader), knife Ranger Torpey - Gunman - carbine, knife Ranger Harrison - Citizen - carbine, knife
Tuhoe Party Piripi Te Huehue - Mighty Warrior - enfield, revolver Te Whenuanui - Warrior - shotgun, mere Rore - Young Blood - musket, hatchet Woman - Citizen - musket Child - Citizen - musket	Colonial Defence Force Cavalry Detachment Captain Withers - Gunman - expert horseman - sabre, revolver Trooper Desmond - Shootist - poor horseman - sabre, revolver Trooper Ramsay - Gunman - inept horsemen - sabre, revolver Trooper Anderson - Citizen - poor horseman - sabre, carbine
Each party rolls 3d6 and starts this many inches out of the manuka bush, heading for the dense woods on the other side of the bush. Note - the Woman and Child in each party may help by reloading and may, in extremis, fire the musket. Reloaded weapons may be passed to an adjacent figure to fire - swapping with their firearm	British forces are not deployed on the board to start with. Turn cards and move the Maori as normal. When Withers or Roberts card is turned, their entire party appears at one or other (player's choice) of the two corners of the board either side of the manuka scrub. From then on they move individually as normal. Effectively the game is a chase, with some quite effective Maori likely to find it difficult to find the time to halt to repel the pursuing British.

Victory Conditions - it is a Maori victory if more than half of their party reach the dense bush at the other side of the board within 18 turns, otherwise the British win.

What Actually Happened

Assisted by their mobility, and their breechloaders (which meant they could reload on the run) the Rangers and Cavalry (together with some mounted Royal Artillery) drew ahead of the rest of the pursuers. Rewi's men halted every now and again, blasting away at the British and causing losses. However, Maori casualties and prisoners also mounted. In the end, Rewi and escaped into the bush with most of his men, but the Maori had paid a high price for their valiance in defending the pa.

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