The Siege of Maungatautari
A new book outlining the story of the establishment of the military-settler town of Camp Cambridge in the mid-1800s has been penned by former Cambridge Historical Society president Grant Middlemiss.
Cambridge’s Grant Middlemiss with his new book covering the story of the town’s early settlement.
His new book, The Siege of Maungatautari: The Final Stand of the Waikato Land War 1864, is described by Middlemiss as an historical narrative that leads up to the establishment of the town on confiscated Māori land in July 1864.
“Today, it is hard to imagine that a huge, fortified Māori Pa existed along Maungatautari Road, just before you descend to Lake Karāpiro,” he said. “It was established by legendary Māori leader Wiremu Tamihana to block the British and colonial forces from using the Waikato River to enter the rich farmlands of the Waikato interior.”
Middlemiss has long had a fascination of the region’s history. The longtime police inspector first came to Cambridge in 1990 when, as part of the New Zealand Police’s Diplomatic Protection Service, he accompanied the visiting Queen Elizabeth as her personal protection officer.
He settled here with his wife Vicki Jacobsen in 2007 and joined the Cambridge Historical Society soon afterwards. He was the society’s president for five years, and served on Waipā District Council’s heritage committee for five years, working tirelessly in support of a major extension to the existing Cambridge Museum. He told The News a few years ago that he was deeply disappointment at the failure of that venture.
In April 2014, Middlemiss self-published a book entitled The Waikato River Gunboats – New Zealand’s First Navy, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of some of the region’s most pivotal battles. He was transfixed by the story of the eight purpose-built river gunboats that deployed in 1863 and the role they played in the Waikato land war.
“I’ve been gathering stories of early Cambridge for the last 10 years,” he said, adding that he was particularly focused on telling this town’s history.
“This book is about the almost unknown story of why the British commander, Lieutenant General Duncan Cameron, and his 3000 troops were setting up camp just outside today’s Cambridge to lay siege to Tamihana’s fortress pa.”
Middlemiss latest offering is also self-published.
Cambridge’s Grant Middlemiss with his new book covering the story of the town’s early settlement.
