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

St George's memorial church, Gate Pā, Tauranga

​St George's since 1900
The first St George's Gate Pā church was built in 1900 as a memorial to the Battle at Gate Pā. A piece of land lying to the east of the main highway was gazetted as a domain (Gate Pā Memorial Reserve) and on 23 August 1880 Canon Jordan requested part of it be made available for a church. For many years St George's Gate Pā was a daughter church of Holy Trinity Tauranga.  
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St George's Gate Pā became an independent parish when our first vicar, Reverend C.D.R. Stevens, was inducted in 1962.   In 1992 the church experienced a significant fire, which resulted in our current building being erected in 1993.    More information can be found in the History of St. George's Gate Pā booklet - or by checking out their website:  St George's Gate Pā

​Pukehinahina - Gate Pā
This photo was taken in 1864 before the Battle of Gate Pā.  It shows the Pā at the top of hill - which is where St George's memorial church sits today.

The land below which is wherre the battle mainly took place - is today a beautiful Memorial Reserve 

Gate Pā memorial reserve

Today this is a peaceful tranquil spot with some of the stories told on the story boards along the walkway.
Eight carved pillars (pou) were installed along the edge of the reserve. Each pou stands for one of the main protagonists: Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāti Pūkenga, Ngāti Hangarau, Waitaha, Tainui iwi, and Pākehā (Lieutenant General Sir Duncan Cameron is depicted). Read about the pou's here: 

Take a tour:  People can take a tour which takes in The Elms - The Mission Cemetery - the Battles of Gate Pa & Te Ranga and St George's church.  Book a tour with Buddy on our Home page here: