Ten years ago, when Grant Ranui returned home from the eastern Bay of Plenty to live on the family block in Pyes Pa, he became aware that much of his family history was muted. His ancestors had not spoken about what was also an important part of Tauranga history.
“It was all hush-hush and wasn’t taught in our schools,” says Grant.
Grant’s predecessors had lived in a peaceful established village near Taumata Road. Surrounded by their plantations and gardens, this wasn’t a fighting fortified pa.
Taumata Marae chair Grant Ranui. Photo: Tracy Hardy.
It was 1867, and his forebears had been growing their whole year’s food supply through the late summer. Fields of maize, kumara, marrows, pumpkins, melons, tobacco and potatoes surrounded the village. It was considered some of the best agricultural land in the district with 80 acres of potatoes producing 12 tons to the acre.
On February 3, 1867, the whole of Te Taumata was destroyed. The militia spent three days demolishing the thatched houses and cultivations. It was reported at the time that 60 men set fire to the crops.
In August 1864, Governor Grey had promised three-quarters of the land marked for confiscation in Tauranga would be returned to Māori. About the same time a few ‘Ngaiterangi chiefs’ were persuaded to ‘sell’ the Katikati and Te Puna lands. In actuality, the resident hapū of those areas were not privy to the sales and vigorously protested.
In 1867 disputes over additional lands being surveyed for confiscation by the Government led to further military action and the destruction of forest villages, crops and plantations on the edge of the bush inland from Tauranga. This ‘Bush Campaign’ followed a scorched earth policy of the Government, designed to drive Ngāti Ranginui from their homes and devastate their livelihoods.
The Wairere Track: Te Tirohanga, an old Pirirākau settlement above Whakamarama and Omokoroa
Since January 2017, to mark 150 years since the attacks on their ancestor’s villages, local hapū have been holding commemorative events which include the erection of memorial pou at Taumata, Te Irihanga and Whakamarama.
The 150 year commemoration of the invasion of Te Irihanga by troops and kupapa was held on January 18, 2017. A dawn powhiri took place at Te Irihanga followed by a further commemoration at Wairoa Marae.
Two weeks later on February 4, buses left Judea at 4am for the predawn commemorative celebration and unveiling of Pou Whenua at Taumata. Ngāti Ruahine & Ngāi Tamarāwho came together to commemorate 150 years since Government forces attacked their kāinga – homes.
James Muir, Western Bay of Plenty Mayor Garry Webber, and Tauranga City Councillors Larry Baldock and Terry Molloy attended both Te Weranga events.
“The thing we got to learn from this is that the pen or the word, the reo is mightier than the patu,” says Garry. “We have got to understand that we can work things out without fighting and I think that is the critical thing we have to learn from the past.”
A memorial pou now stands at the beginning of Taumata Rd to acknowledge their tūpuna who resisted the invasion & confiscation of their lands and were punished for it by the Crown. Akeake Marae at Taumata hosted the people who gathered with a pōhiri & delicious breakfast to celebrate the newly reopened wharenui Te Reinui Ao.
“We don’t forget what happened in the past nor hold animosity about what happened,” says Grant. “The following year after the crops were destroyed at Taumata was hard. We pride ourselves on being able to provide for our families. The ability to be resilient is an important message that we try pass on down to our kids. We want them to grow up knowing about the bush campaigns.”
Starting at 7am on Saturday April 8, the public are invited to attend a ceremony and dedication of a memorial pou at Puketoki Reserve, Whakamārama followed at 9am by a whakanoa and breakfast at Tawhitinui Marae, then at 11am the telling of the story of Te Weranga, and finishing with a Hākari at noon.
Car Parking on Saturday April 8:
There will be signs to guide you. The Māori Wardens will also be there to help.
Puketoki 7am:
– for manuhiri and kuia/koroua, a field is available for your parking on Leyland Rd, directly before Puketoki Reserve on the right
– Tauranga Moana whānau, please park at Tāwhitinui Marae and use the three provided shuttles. They will be going back and forth between the marae and reserve from 6:30am.
Tawhitinui 9am:
– please follow the instructions of the Māori Wardens for appropriate parking.
For more information: Facebook Te Weranga 150 Commemorations
