Autumn at The Stone Store

We were out and about this morning enjoying the fresh Autumn air, not too hot not too cold and I felt this shot expressed what an awesome view this is of the Kerikeri Stone Store, St James Church and the Kemp Mission House.

This is the location where missionaries James Kemp, Francis Hall and John Butler lived, taught and preached as well as farmed and gardened. According to Maori historians, Ngati Miru, the people who first lived in this area were attacked and driven away by a war party of Ngapuhi.

I hope you enjoy your weekend :-)

Historical Kororipo Pa

Near Kerikeri's Stone Store is this historic gem - the Kororipo pa site was once occupied by some of the Hongi Hika and Rewa's people (Ngapuhi) in the 1820s. This was once a stockaded fortress and used as a port to collect shellfish, seafood and a place to store  their canoes.

This area was previously occupied by another tribe called Ngati Miru until they were attacked by the Ngapuhi.

Kororipo - meaning Waha-o-teriri (mouth of war) is now under the protection of NZ's Department of Conservation and it is a popular tourist spot.

Hongi Hika and his people left Kerikeri for Whangaroa at the end of 1826 and after being hurt in battle in 1827 died in 1828. In 1830 Rewa and his people left Kerikeri to live at Russell then Kororipo became deserted. Rewa sold 7 acres to James Kemp in 1831 to become part of his farm and mission station and in 1838 the remaining 6 acres were also sold to James Kemp by Hongi's sons Hongi and and Puru. This 6 acres was gifted to the nation by E.S. Little in the 1950s.