On 13 September and 14 September 1863, 11 settlers and 6 militia men inside a half-completed stockade around the Pukekohe East church held off a Māori taua or war party of approximately 200 men from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Pou iwi, until they were relieved by detachments of the 18th, 65th and 70th Regiments.
On September 13th and September 14th, 1863, eleven settlers and six militia men defended a half-finished stockade around Pukekohe East church against an attack by about two hundred warriors from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Pou iwi. The defenders held out until reinforcements arrived from the 18th, 65th, and 70th Regiments.