A dawn service has been held this morning at Ruapekapeka Pā near Waitangi to remember the soldiers who died during one of the countrys first major conflicts over the Treaty of Waitangi.
The small settlement was bombarded by more than a thousand British troops while Māori hid in underground bunkers 175 years ago, during the Northern War.
Later this morning the Prime Minister, the Governor General and iwi leaders will arrive at the pā for the official ceremony, where they will unveil a memorial to some of the British soldiers.
It will be the first event to kick-off the government's annual trip to Waitangi.
Te Aniwa Hurihanganui is there.
