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

Te Papa (Tauranga) Historic Area 

The background
The northern end of Tauranga's Te Papa peninsula, which is known as Tauranga's historic area, was occupied by Māori until the devastating raid in 1828 by Ngāti Maru from the Thames area on Otamataha Pā after which the remaining hapū fled.  Today the hapū of the Te Papa peninsula are represented by Otamataha Trust

European arrivals: prior to the raid was the arrival of HMS The Herald.  At 9am on Friday 23 June 1826 HMS The Herald was the first European ship to enter Tauranga Harbour. Henry Williams, leader of the Christian Missionary Society (CMS) conducted a Christian service at Otamataha Pā (Mission Cemetery).  However other account say the service was conducted at Waikorire Pilot Bay. 

Visiting again in 1828, the missionaries found that Otamataha Pā had been attacked and the inhabitants killed, taken as slaves or had fled to other settlements. The Otamataha site was abandoned and considered tapu (sacred).  However, the local Māori chiefs realised the advantages that a missionary presence could provide for trade and security. With their reputation as peacemakers, missionaries of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) were invited to live amongst Tauranga Māori and they establish a mission station at Te Papa. Inter-tribal skirmishes remained an ongoing concern during the 1830s and Te Papa Mission Station was not formally established until 1838 under the leadership of Rev. Alfred Nesbit Brown.
Te Papa Mission Station: 1838-1839.  In 1834 Alfred Brown first visited Tauranga with Henry Williams. They met with Maungatapu Pā chiefs looking for land. In 1838 the CMS settled for the Te Papa site. Under Brown, the Christian Missionary Society (CMS) purchased 12.5 hectares from Māori to establish the Te Papa Mission Station. In 1839 they purchased 240 hectares from the Te Papa Mission Station to Pukehinahina (Gate Pa).

Te Papa Mission Station, established by Brown, initially consisted of several raupo whare (houses) for the missionaries, a shed for the carpenters, a store for supplies and a boat shed on the beach at the foot of the cliff. Brown arranged for work to begin on permanent structures and the first to be completed was the library in 1838 and eventually the mission house in 1847. During this establishment period Brown was busy and successful in his attempts to take the Christian message to Māori throughout the Bay of Plenty. This included a significant education programme.  Alfred Brown also walked for many months of the year, over rough tracks, in all weathers to visit remote settlements where he preached christianity and education. For most of this time Alfred Brown and his family were integrated into Maori life........ until... 
The New Zealand War years 1864 - 1867.  The Battle of Gate Pā | Pukehinahina, massacre at Te Ranga (1864) and the Te Weranga ki Taumata Tauranga Bush Campaign (1867) triggered wide spread  raupātu (confiscation) of land. Māori won the Battle of Gate Pā - but lost to the Colonists at Te Ranga.

The Te Papa block owned by CMS was gifted to the Crown under the understanding that in return, the CMS was to keep one 5th for the benefit of Māori. This did not happen, leaving repercussions between Māori and Pākehā to this day.

The founding of Tauranga - Military Settlers: 1867-1878  Conflicts occurred as the confiscated land - mainly in the Whakamaramara and Te Puna rohe - starts to be surveyed. The gifted Te Papa block was subdivided - including the one 5th that was meant to be for Maori - and given to military settlers, founding the township of Tauranga.

Cliff Road Te Papa and The Apology 1990s - 2018. In the mid 1990s a Christian organisation called  Te Kohinga quietly advocated with the Māori tribes for the land to be returned to them. These tribes formed Otamataha Trust representing three hāpu.  Naboth's Vineyard - an exceptional piece of work by Dr Alistair Reece - outlines the history leading up to the historic 2018 Anglican Apology which sets Cliff Road as a place of 'Forgiveness and Reconciliation' and ultimate unification. 

Tauranga Civic Centre 2022.  In turn The Apology resulted in the Tauranga City Council forming an  historic 50/50 partnership between Otamataha Trust and the Council for part of the Civic Centre which would house a mana whenua museum.  

The Elms Te Papa, Ōtamataha Pā (the site of the MissionCemetery today) and the Cliff Road area, is within Tauranga's historic area adjacent to the CBD.  The three hapū of the area - in addition to The Elms Te Papa - hold the stories of the rich and often painful history that today is the city of Tauranga
 
This unique historic area, called 'the green necklace' includes our entwined history:

• Hapū history of this area in pre European times
• The archeologically significant Ōtamataha Pā (Mission Cemetery) and Cliff Road area which was over-run by a marauding tribe from Thames in 1828
• The Elms Te Papa Mission House & Library (1838), today nestled within five star heritage gardens.
• The Mission Cemetery (1838)
• The Old Post Office (1863)
• The Monmouth Redoubt (1864).  History: The old sea cliff at the north end of The Strand was known to Māori as the Taumatakahawai Pā.  It was abandoned in 1828 after an attack on the northern end of the Te Papa peninsula by Ngati Maru from the Coromandel peninsula.  Taumatakahawai Pa and Otamataha Pa were fortified pā along the cliff (today known as Cliff road). The two pa guarded the high land at the northern end of the Te Papa peninsula. The defences were rebuilt in the late 1830s for protection in case there was an attack on the mission by Te Arawa raiding parties.
• The Domain as a Reserve (1873) - with Athletics, Tennis, Croquet, Rugby, Cricket and Bowls from 1888.
• The Aspen Tree - Willow Street (1880) - No longer there sadly - but it has a story to be told
• Brain Watkins House (1881)
• The Bonded Warehouse (1883) at No. 1 The Strand
• The Rail Bridge (1910)
• Statue of Cannon Jordon - Wharepai Domain (1916)
• The Domain Gates - Wharepai Domain (1921)
• Herries Park - The Strand (1928)
• Building on Cnr Grey & Spring Street (1938) & Sculpture (1995) - Legend of Taurikura 
• The Robbins Park Begonia Glasshouse (1954)
• Rose Gardens - Cliff Road (1958)
• Hotel St Amand - The Strand (1962)
• Te Awanui Canoe - The Strand (1973)

 
Read more about the historic area here
Locals and visitors alike will be attracted to this historic area for the rich stories it has to tell.  With its aspect to Mauao and with so many historic sites to visit between Fifth Avenue and Sulphur Point (72 in fact) in this area of Tauranga, all will enjoy this small part of Tauranga; the heritage trees and gardens, the picnic spaces in shady historic spots and other sites of interest with our entwined history - and all within the CBD.

Click on images below to read captions

Photograph acknowledgement: The Elms, Tauranga City Libraries,Tauranga Historical society and C R Brown

Great cities have iconic historic areas that have many stories to tell. Tauranga's historic area has outstanding potential for everyone to work together with heritage partners for creating a registered Historic Area under New Zealand New Zealand | Pouhere Taonga. No other area within Tauranga City's CBD has the potential for creating such a deeply meaningful and stunning historic presence.  Read more about The Historic Footprints of Te Papa- an exceptional piece of work by John Coster.

Cliff Road (Otamataha Pā) site has deep connection to our harbour (Te Awanui)

Click on images below to read captions
Photo Acknowledgement: History Tauranga Port and Tauranga City Libraries

Tauranga harbour has sustained the community for nearly nine hundred years when iwi first sailed through the harbour entrance in their waka.  The first European ship to grace our harbour was The Herald in 1826, bringing the missionaries and early settlers. Our harbour represents a significant taonga in itself. In 1950 Tauranga was chosen as an export port for the Bay of Plenty, creating many jobs and increasing the population markedly. Tauranga has continued to become a thriving marine city, its story just waiting to be told.  The Port of Tauranga's history here.

Header Photo Acknowledgement: nzpostcards, The Elms, Tauranga City Libraries