TAONGA TU HERITAGE BAY OF PLENTY

Titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamura'
'When you understand the past, you know your future'

When historic heritage connects across our communities,
the more it enriches our lives, helps drive
our economy and grows our identity.

Taonga Tū Heritage Bay of Plenty is an independent Charitable Trust.

Purpose: To act as an independent heritage voice advocating for the heritage sector across the Western Bay of Plenty.

Vision: To inspire historic heritage kotahitanga (unity) and action across the region

Values: Trust, Integrity, Manaakitanga (respect), Vision

Kaupapa: creating inspirational ways to grow our Western Bay of Plenty identity through:

developing resources for schools that assist the Aotearoa Histories Curriculum which has to be taught through local contexts.
To promote heritage experiences and field trips that connect us to our past, present and future, to our communities and to each other.

Fact Sheet - learn more

Important Notice
This website - currently operated by volunteers - is a continual work in progress: It's strategy over time is to connect historic heritage across our towns - inclusive of hapū/iwi, our ecology and fauna & flora. It is a slow process, buyt deeply worthwhile.

Our current project Ngā Tapuwae ki te hauauru o Te Waiariki | Footprints on Western Bay of Plenty is development. It is the second in a Map,Guide and Website series designed to connect the historic heritage footprints of the Western Bay of Plenty. The first in the series, Ngā Tapuwae ki Te Papa Footprints on Te Papa concentrates on the CBD in Tauranga. This first map and website is in the process of being upgraded. When completed the two projects will be assessable from one website.

Please keep visiting with us as we move forward a little bit further each year.

Meanwhile enjoy some of the things we are sharing on this site:
There are 6,675 recorded heritage sites across the Bay of Plenty rohe, few of which are known to locals, schools or visitors. Source: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Visit Western Bay Museum in Katikati this Spring: This superb Museum brings to life both the local iwi and the pioneering spirit of the Katikati rohe. We remember the storms and hardships of the voyages that brought the settlers here. We champion, commemorate and celebrate those who worked together – local Māori, Ulster Irish and all other settlers – to build this region and we strive to keep their memory alive. We evoke their determination and struggles in our work. We consider ourselves the guardians and custodians of our stories and treasures. Our forbearers made this part of Western Bay what it is today. Without them and their legacy, there would be no us.”

Visit Maketū
Historic Maketū is located on Ōkūrei Point, also known as Town Point or ‘Te Okureitanga o Te Ihu o Tamatekapua (the point that is the prow/nose of Tamatekapua). This point is significant in traditional and spiritual senses. This significant headland is imbued with the mana (inherent authority) of Tamatekapua, the captain of the Te Arawa waka (canoe) which left Hawaiki around 1340 AD and arrived at Maketu circa 1340AD.

Maketū is predominantly Māori from the Whakaue Hapū of Te Arawa Iwi.
Located east of Te Puke township, Makeū is the traditional landing site of Te Arawa canoe more than 800 years ago when several migrations came from Polynesia. Maketū is named after an ancient kumara pit in Hawaiki – the place from which Māori originally sailed their waka to New Zealand.
Kotukutuku Gully – a delightful walk and insight into local history
Maketu Ongatoro Wetlands – a group that looks after the beaches and wetlands that surround Maketu. The group also looks after the endangered NZ Dotterel that nests on the Maketu Spit.
Also home to the famous Maketū Pies and delicious fish & chips
For more in-depth information and the history of magical Maketū, Te Puke, Paeangaroa and surrounds, along with our wonderful kiwifruit story, talk to Kiwifruit Country Tours

Te Puna Quarry Park -
Te Puna Quarry park started life as a Rock Quarry in the early 1900s, through until 1979. Ten years later, the council planted some pine trees, and the Te Puna Quarry Park Society was formed in 1993, beginning work on the park three years later. Nearly 20 years since we started developing this park into a local and national treasure, we’ve come a long way, and we’re excited to see what will be next.
Read more about Te Puna Quarry Park
Explore the Park this Spring it is open everyday
110 Te Puna Quarry Road
Te Puna, Tauranga

Papāmoā Hills - Western Bay's best secret
This is an outstanding trail: the view from top is unsurpassed. Seven pā sites can be found in these hills, and the terracing they created in the hills can quite clearly be seen. The regional park was formed in 2003 to help protect the site’s cultural heritage (which may date back as far as 1650AD or even earlier) and there are over 1,630 individual archaeological features recorded within the park. Predominantly the features are terraces (tuku) and platforms (papatahi), pits, middens and defensive earthworks such as ditches (maioro).
Read more about the Papāmoā Hills Project

Best time to explore Papamoa Hills is all year round
Poplar Lane, off Te Puke Highway
17km south of Tauranga along the Te Puke Highway. You'll find the Papamoa Hills Regional Park at the end of Poplar Lane.

Harakeke - New Zealand Flax.

The history of the Flax industry in and around Te Puke involved significant milling operations that began in the 1870s and continued until the early 1940s, making it a major industry in the area. After the invention of machines to strip the fibrous leaves in the 1860s, the process became faster, and mills employed both Māori and Europeans. The demand for New Zealand flax fibre eventually declined, but mills in the area were still operating, even creating local history through the Paroa mill. The flax milling industry is a notable part of Te Puke's past

Recently delivered Projects:
Supported by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Ngā Tapuwae ki Te Papa
Footprints on Te Papa
MAP & GUIDE
click image to enter

Tauranga Western Bay Heritage Strategy
Orokohanga Poutama
'weaving a stairway from creation towards heritage unity, recognition and excellence'
A strategy towards connecting our heritage

Current Projects:
More information coming soon

Past Projects:
Visit our Events page to see past projects

Discover
Western Bay of Plenty
more entries coming soon

Discover
Eastern Bay of Plenty
more entries coming soon