BOP History

Western Bay of Plenty History

Pre European

Before reading the historical records it is worth knowing the now known facts about POLYNESIAN SETTLEMENT.
At the 1988 New Zealand Archaeolical Association Conference hel in Auckland, Dr Douglas Sutton, senior lecturer in the Anthropology Dept of Auckland University, suggested that the first Polynesians arrived in this country between 1 AD and 500 AD. He said "I am of the opinion that you have to understand Polynesian colonisation of New Zealand as a chain of events.

Evidence suggests that a Polynesian canoe could hold only 25 people. If one or two canoes came here, that is 25 or 50 people. Population increase in "pre-contact" New Zealand may have been as low as one percent per annum. " how you get hundreds of archaeological sites from 25 people seems to me to be a serious conundrum." He suggests that New Zealand was colonised repeatedly before 1500 AD, rather than being discovered by a single group of people.

Due largely to recent research by Dr Pat Kirch of Burke Museum, University of Washington, it is estimated that there were people on the Cook Islands about 300 BC; on the Marquesas about 300 BC; on Hawaii about 300 AD and on Easter Island about 400 AD. Further research could drop these dates back still further.

It was accepted that New Zealand was settled from these places shortly after they were settled. However it shows that humans have been withon 20 sailing days of this country for the past 2500 years or so and could have come at any time.

Ben Finney's voyage in Hokule'a , a reconstructed Polynesian canoe, has proved that traditional methods can be used to navigate over, not just hundreds, but thousands of kilometres.

Dr Sutton says " There are major and rather poorly explained vegitation disturbances in several areas of New Zealand about 2500 years ago. These dates coincide with the now proven dates of earliest human presence in the Cook Islands and the Marquesas,"

1290

The low land and coastal counrty side is covered in ferns and ti-tree. The Kaimai’s are covered in native forest with massive Kauri trees many thousands of years old.

The Takitimu arrives at Te Awanui (original name for Tauranga ) the tribes in residence were Nga Marama of the Tainui canoe, along with Te Purukupenga and sections of Te Tini o Toi. The Takitimu was a highly sacred canoe, and it is said that only the aristocracy and priestly class from the homeland of Hawaiki traveled aboard her. Ranginui, the founding ancestor of Ngati Ranginui, was the son of Tamatea-pokai-whenua, the captain of the canoe.

The origins of Ngaiterangi Iwi

Ngaiterangi Iwi originally came from a land called Hawaiki. Upon arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand aboard the Mataatua canoe the tribe later settled in the Opotiki area at a Pa or fortified village called Tawhitirahi, not withstanding this NgaiterangiIwi are also descended from the original inhabiants of Tauranga and the pre-migration people who traversed the entire Bay of Plenty, through intermarriage after the arrival of the canoes.

1700

Ngaiterangi conquest of Tauranga

European

1769 click for details

Captain Cook sails across the Bay of Plenty in the Endevour

1818: Ngapuhi chief Te Morenga destroys Matarehu Pa, Motiti Island.

1820: Te Morenga destroys Pa on Mauao (Mt Maunganui). Te Wani, chief of Ngaiterangi saves Otumoetai Pa – makes peace with Te Morenga at Matuaiwi Pa. Samuel Marsden sees Tauranga and waring tribes from top of Mt Hikurangi near Waihi. First European sighting.

1823: Hongi Hika (Ngapuhi chief) attacks Rotorua and Makoia Island.

1828: Destruction of Te Papa – Otamataha Pa – 500 killed.

1832: Ngapuhi attack on Otumoetai Pa.

1834: Site for Mission station at Te Papa (Tauranga) chosen.

1835: Mission station opened.

1835: Fighting between Arawa, Ngaiterangi and Waikato tribes begin.

1836: march. Arawa Pa at Makatu destroyed by Ngaiterangi and Waikato. May. Ngaiterangi Pa at Te Tumu destroyed by Arawa.

1840: Feb. Arawa war party on Tauranga (600 warriors). Ngaiterang chief Tupaea refuses to make peace.

1842: Taraia, Ngati Maru chief destroys Wanaki’s Pa at Ongare near Katikati.

1845: Peace treaty between Ngaiterangi and Arawa.

1852: HMS Pandora surveys Tauranga Harbour.

1857: First steam ship enters Taraunga Harbour.

1864: Jan. Military occupation of Tauranga. 1864 April, Battle of Gate Pa, Maori .v ictory. 1864 June Battle of Te Ranga, Imperial Troops victory. 1864 Aug, formal peacemaking with Maori. Confiscation of land following surrender.

1867: Tauranga District Lands Act legalizes the confiscation.

1869: Fear of attack by Te Kooti. Opepe massacre – 9 Tauranga men killed.

1870: Tauranga District Highways Boards established. Telegraph communications .established with Wellington.

1882: Tauranga gazetted a Borough. George Vesey Stewart, founder of Katikati, elected .first Mayor. Population 1258.