The Mount, Tauranga Postcard published by A. McGlashan, postmarked 1915 Collection of Justine Neal |
In pre-European days the vegetation cover of Mauao would have been minimal. There were at least three defended pa sites and numerous terraces, pits and middens have been recorded by present day archaeological exploration. Ranginui and Kinonui of the Takitimu waka established a pa on Mauao, as did the Waitaha people. They occupied Mauao for centuries, later Ngai Te Rangi and Ngati Pukenga settled in the area, forming strong marital relationships.
Pilot Bay (Waikorire), Mount Maunganui, probably photographed by John Welsh, c.1920-1925 Postcard published by A.J. Mirrielees (No 45) Collection of Justine Neal |
Mauao, undated by unidentified photographer and publisher Collection of Justine Neal |
The summit pa of Mauao was one of the most strategically important locations in the Tauranga district with commanding views along much of the Bay of Plenty coast and inland to the volcanic plateau. An early description states ... "the pa of Maunganui covered about 100 acres. The fortifications crossed the top of the hill and ran down each side, then, circling round the base to the south, they met. The fortifications were so strong and the garrison so numerous that the pa seemed impregnable to Maori weapons."
The Mount, Tauranga, N.Z., photograph probably by Stevens Bros. (No 5), undated Postcard published Frank Duncan & Co., Auckland Collection of Justine Neal |
In 1838 when William Colenso with Reverend William Williams climbed to the top of Mauao gathering geological specimens he recorded his impressions: This hill has been strongly fortified. The labour bestowed on it has been immense and yet it was taken and the slaughter was very great. It appears to have been inhabited to the very top. The sites of houses, the fireplaces and ancient excavations for stones and skulls still remaining. In 1865, following the battle of Te Ranga, Mauao was included in the lands confiscated by the Crown from Ngai Te Rangi. Today the Mauao Historic Reserve is private land, owned by the three iwi of Tauranga Moana under the formation of the Mauao Trust that is available, used and enjoyed by all as a public space.
References
Musket Wars. A History of Inter-Iwi Conflict, 1806-1845, by Ron D. Crosby, publ. 2017 by Oratia Media
A History of Mount Maunganui, by Bruce Cunningham & Ken Musgrave, publ. 1989 by Mount maunganui Borough Council
Mauao Historic Reserve Management Plan, Tauranga City Council, 2018
We lived in Mount Maunganui for 3 years and spent lots of time around Mauao, it's good to read of it's history.
ReplyDeleteyou omitted the massacre of the Ngatirangi Pa on Mauao by the Ngaiterangis from Maketu.
ReplyDeleteref:A Centenial History of Tauranga, Gifford and Williams, 1940
The above text clearly references the battle of Kokowai.
Deletecareful where you tread for carelesness is your enemy on mauao
ReplyDeletewho ever planted the pohutukawa for sure stopped the hard work from washing back into the sea huh
ReplyDeletelooks as tho the cdc staff picnic at the mount standing next to a much smaller and some say unrecognisable mount maunganui shows this history lesson above to be a tad embellished ?
ReplyDeletehttps://digitalnz.org/records/23034559/matakana-island-harbour-entrance
ReplyDeleteinhabited to the very top you say? when 1800s hmmmm
hi this is cool
ReplyDelete