Kororipo Pā: The return of a historic landmark
A sold-out event at Kerikeri’s Turner Centre last Monday gave the local community an opportunity to hear more about the return of Kororipo Pā to Ngāpuhi, with Ngāti Rēhia as kaitiaki of the site.
The return of Kororipo was enabled by legislation passed in December last year, the culmination of 33 years of advocacy from Ngāpuhi. On Monday the audience heard from Kipa Munro, Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia, who outlined the significance of Kororipo as a place where Ngāpuhi rangatira met to discuss issues of importance.
The pā was under the leadership of Hongi Hika, and was the place from which many taua (war party) left during the musket wars.
David Clendon, the Tohu Whenua representative for Te Tai Tokerau Northland, spoke about the beginnings of European settlement, when CMS missionaries settled there in 1819, under Hongi’s protection.
“It is difficult to overstate the importance of Kororipo, both for its rich and deep pre-European history, and as the site of some of the earliest interactions and relationship building between tangata whenua and the new arrivals from Europe."
The event demonstrated an appetite within the community to learn more about the extraordinary people and events of the time.
"Kororipo provides a unique opportunity for visitors wanting to learn more; to visit Te Ahurea to hear the indigenous stories from the indigenous people, then to walk over a bridge across Te Awa o Ngā Rangatira (Kerikeri River) and enter the world of those early missionaries, and later settlers – the Stone Store, Kemp House - all the while under the commanding presence of Kororipo Pā”.
