A ceasefire is formally effected on March…

A ceasefire is formally effected on March 18, 1861, ending the first phase of the Taranaki War.

From 22 January, the day before the attack on No.3 Redoubt, Pratt had begun employing the Royal Engineers to systematically apply the technique of sapping to advance towards Te Arei.

Excavating through night and day under frequent fire, Pratt's sap extends seven hundred and sixty-eight yards and crossed the rifle pits of the Huirangi pā, prompting Māori to abandon the pā and fall back on Pukerangiora.

Despite widespread criticism for his slowness and caution, Pratt had pressed on towards Te Arei, creating the most extensive field-engineering works ever undertaken by British troops in New Zealand.

Five more redoubts had been built as the saps continued to the edge of the cliff above the Waitara River, but ceased after the intervention of Kingite chief Wiremu Tamihana, who has helped negotiate a truce.