Otatara Pa

During our trip to Taupo 3 years ago (I had forgotten I'd taken these photos), we spent the day in Napier as my grandmother on my mother's side grew up there. This was one place we decided to visit.

Otatara Pa site is a historical reserve and walk which sits on top of a hill outside of town. The carvings are known as Pou.

So there is an upper pa (Hikurangi) and a lower pa (Otatara). Visitors can see the remnants of terraces, living sites, and food storage pits.

The area covers over 40 hectares and is one of the largest and oldest pa sites in the Hawkes Bay area.

Maori preferred this place because of it's strategic point in Napier and of it's expansive views over the region.

The Chief Turauwha was very important at this time, around 400 years ago. Another Maori named Taraia lead Ngati Kahungunu (a tribe) to Heretaunga where they attached Otatara. 

Through living there, intermarriage and power/influence they expanded to dominate the region.

In 1973 part of the pa was designated as a historic reserve to protect what is remaining. In 1987 management of the reserve was passed to the Department of Conservation which has carried on added parts to the pa to show how it once was.

Otatara Pa is now registered as a category 1 historic place. Information from the Hawkes Bay website.

 Linking up with Through my lens, All Seasons, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

Taumarumaru Scenic Reserve

A few days ago I posted about our visit to Rangikapiti Pa site in Mangonui, this one is also another of the same but instead it's been renamed "Taumarumaru Scenic Reserve" and it's located in Cooper's Beach (Doubtless Bay).

There were suppose to be terraces and storage pits but large areas of the land was covered in scrub and weeds so apart from the walking track and miles of long grass the only thing to see was the coastline, but we definitely weren't complaining about that.

This one was a bit more of a walk than the last one, several hills to climb but worth the views on the way up.  This reserve doesn't just have 1 pa site it apparently has 3 which had historical significance to the Ngai Awa and later Ngati Kahu people. 

 It is 22ha in size and was purchased by the Crown in 1984 for public enjoyment, people are allowed to bring their dogs as long as they are on a leash.  This was the view over the coastline from the top looking towards the Mangonui and Hihi Beach area.

Looking over the other side this is the view over Cooper's Beach and Taipa.

The top track lead either way to either straight down or another one here lead down to a pristine beach with golden sand.

Once we were down there it was nice to paddle in the cool water. We get fairly mild winters up here so you can still sit on a beach and enjoy the sun when it's out.  Since we visited here on a Monday we were pretty much the only ones around.

Stay safe where you are, kia kaha.