a famous battle which took place on the beach of island bay has been well documented by elsdon best. a raiding taua (war party) from muau-poko were making their way to the ngai tara stronghold of te whetu-kairangi, a fortified pa on what is now miramar peninsular (but was then an island). in the morning, ngai tara warriors came down from uruhau fort (modern day southgate) and engaged muau-poko in battle on the beach. two muaupoko chiefs were killed, and later cremated in haewai (houghton bay). this battle is commemorated with a pou on the zig-zag leading from liffey street to orchy crescent.