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Story: Ngāi Tahu

Kāpara-te-hau (Lake Grassmere)

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Kāpara-te-hau

At Kāpara-te-hau (Lake Grassmere) in the early 1830s Ngāi Tahu forces launched a surprise attack on their Ngāti Toa enemies. Although the chief Te Rauparaha managed to escape, Ngāi Tahu were victorious, and many Ngāti Toa were killed.

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GNS Science

Reference: 46363/8

by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page

Te Maire Tau, Ngāi Tahu – The southern Ngāi Tahu response, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4266/kapara-te-hau-lake-grassmere (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Te Maire Tau, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 March 2017.