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The New Zealand Wars: A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period: Volume II: The Hauhau Wars, (1864–72)

Captain Preece, N.Z.C

Captain Preece, N.Z.C.

Captain Preece, N.Z.C.

Captain G. A. Preece is a New Zealand-born officer who won the highest distinction in the Maori wars. His father was a pioneer missionary who laboured among the natives in the very early days, and was the first to establish a station in the Urewera Country. Captain Preece began his military career in 1865 in the operations against the rebel faction of Ngati-Porou on the East Coast. At the first attack on Ngatapa (1868) he and Major Ropata rendered exceptionally gallant services for which each was awarded the New Zealand Cross. (See Chapter 28, p. 275.) In 1869 he served as staff officer and interpreter to Colonel Whitmore in the Urewera expedition and in the operations on the West Coast. He commanded No. 2 Company of the Arawa Flying Column (Constabulary) in the arduous pursuit of Te Kooti through the Urewera Mountains. When settled conditions came, Captain Preece was appointed Resident Magistrate at Opotiki, and for many years served the country as R.M. in the North Island.