After the British had taken Meremere, the Maori retreated to fortifications at Rangiriri. An outnumbered Maori force was attacked by 1500 British troops in one of the crucial battles of the Waikato campaign on 20 November 1863, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
Part of the central redoubt has been preserved and the grassed over ditches and banks give an impression of the formidable task the British undertook in attempting to drive the Maori from their defences.
The Battlesite Heritage Centre in Rangiriri township contains displays, artefacts and information about the site including the battle.