Galatea, New Zealand

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The forested hills and mountains of the Ikawhenua Range and in particular Mount Tawhiuau stand guard on the Eastern flank of the area known as the Galatea Plains or Basin, or to those of us who have made it our home, simply Galatea. To the West, and over the Rangitaiki River stretch the 120,000 acres (490 km²) of the Kaingaroa Forest.

The Southern boundary is the Whirinaki River which descends from the Ureweras and joins the Rangitaiki below the township of Murupara. A few miles downstream and on the Western side of this trout filled river was built Fort Galatea where, from their lofty lookout, the constabulary living there were able to survey the tracks used by the many Maori who passed by on their way from or to the coast near Whakatane.

To the North the Ikawhenuas lower and gradually close in to reach the right hand bank of the Rangitaiki, leaving only enough room for an access road from the valley over "Snake Hill"to the Rangitaiki Plains.

The coastal area of the Bay of Plenty has been occupied by various tribes of Maori arriving in frail canoes from the islands of Polynesia. As more canoes arrived, the newcomers either fitted in with the peaceful residents or overcame them with their warlike attitude. They fished when the season was right, then moved inland to trap pigeons, gather fernroots, and catch eels. At these times they reached Waiohau, Galatea, Murupara and Te Whaiti.

When visits of European trading ships became more common, the Galatea Maoris would travel down the river with goods to barter. Flax was their main commodity and axes, spades, hoes and later, guns and clothing were given in return. These people were Ngati Manawa and their neighbours in the adjoining Urewera forested hills were the Tuhoe, or "Children of the Mist", who often raided the Ngati Manawa and on occasion drove them out of the area.

Pomare, chief of the Ngapuhi from Northland was in the habit of travelling South to fight with the Bay of Plenty tribes and after attacking all the pa on the plains, chased the Tuhoe back into the hills of the Ureweras. He returned home with his canoes loaded with spoils and heads of the vanquished, only to return a year later The Ngati Manawa were relieved to see the Ngapuhi disappear up the Horomanga River to meet up with Pomare's party who travelled up the Waimana River into the mountainous Urewera lands.

A principal chief of Tuhoe sent a messenger to Pomare asking for a meeting at which the threat of war between the tribes ceased and this led to continuing peace between Ngapuhi and Tuhoe.

The Hau Hau religion started in Taranaki and was introduced to the Bay of Plenty in 1865 by two of its prophets who met the Tuhoe, Ngati Manawa and Ngati Whare tribes with the object of explaining the "new religion". Some accepted and were initiated around the head of a Captain Lloyd who had been killed in Taranaki. In Opotiki, the Rev. Carl Volkner, a much loved missionary was murdered and later a half-caste interpreter, James Fulloon was murdered at Whakatane. Open hostility to "pakeha" was shown over a wide area, and killings occurred on both sides.

This is where Fort Galatea came into use. H.M.S. Galatea at that time was visiting the country and the Duke of Edinburgh was a passenger. and it is from this ship that the name was derived. Soldiers were stationed at the Fort in readiness to march into the forests of the Ureweras to fight the Hau Hau, and with them a renegade by the name of Te Kooti who had been captured after a battle in the Poverty Bay area. He was transported as a prisoner to the Chatham Islands when he soon became the leader of the prisoners. During a riot, they escaped, seized a schooner and reached the mainland where they continued the war against the pakeha.Te Kooti was ruthless and in complete control of the Hau Hau, even though he was not one of them, but was a prophet and leader of what was to become the Ringatu religion.