People are encouraged to attend Battle of Gate Pa commemorations

Today is the 153rd anniversary of the Battle of Gate Pa - and several events are being held to mark the occasion.

A dawn service will be held at Pukehinahina/Gate Pa from 6.30am, followed by an address and the unveiling of a new Durham Redoubt information panel near the former site of the Durham Redoubt at 9am.

The unveiling was part of the ongoing programme of marking heritage sites around the city.

Pukehinahina Charitable Trust had chosen April 29 because it marked the anniversary of the Battle of Gate Pa.

The unveiling event, being hosted by Ngai Tamarawaho, will feature addresses from Michael Lawton, representing Durham Light Infantry (formerly 68th DLI), Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless, and a representative from the New Zealand Defence Force.

The event will be followed by morning tea, hosted at The Elms.

Reverend John Hebenton of the Anglican Parish of Gate Pa said a small commemorative service would be at St George's Church from 4pm - the time the British forces began their march up Pukehinahina.

"At the service we will hear an account of the battle and then have time of silent reflection with images playing. At 4.30pm the church bell will be rung 60 times to remember the men who lost their lives in the battle, he said

Reverend Hebenton said the service would finish with prayer for the future of the city,

"This year we also hope to include a reflection of it being 150 years since Te Weranga, the Bush Campaign in 1867 in Tauranga Moana," he said.

Reverend Hebenton said, after the church service, a new information panel put in by the marae atea at the top of Pukehinahina would be unveiled and blessed.

"Because our church sits on the site of the Battle of Gate Pa we feel a sense of responsibility for honouring the story of both battles and the aftermath with integrity," he said.

"We offer this simple service as a contribution to this ongoing commemoration, and invite people to join us as we remember all those who fought and died in this battle and the consequences for nga iwi o Tauranga Moana," he said.