Te Koru Pā Historic Reserve
Introduction
Nau mai, Haere mai
A place of discovery, Te Koru Pā holds great cultural, traditional and spiritual significance to the Ngāti Tairi hapu.
Te Koru Pā is a place of discovery. Wander along the defensive ditches, through the extensive terracing, past many rua and on up to house sites.
Bush at Te Koru Pa
Features
This nationally significant pā has great examples of rua pits (food storage) defensive ditches and extensive terracing.
One special feature of the pā is the stone revetting (walls) on the terracing. River stones were placed against the fragile banks to keep the earth in place and to make it difficult for marauding parties to gain a foot hold on the smooth rocks.
This once open pā is now nestled under a canopy of native bush with tracks that lead you along defensive ditches past many rua to a view over the Oakura River.
History
Of all Taranaki pā, none has the atmosphere and sheer physical presence of Te Koru, the great citadel of the Nga Mahanga a Tairi iwi.
Te Koru is one of many pā in the region situated along the old bush edge, marking the inner boundary of land cleared and settled before the arrival of the Europeans.
Location
Te Koru Pā lies on the west coast, south of New Plymouth and 3 km southeast of the Oakura township. The local hapu is Ngā Mahangā a Tairi of Taranaki Iwi.
Getting there
Travel southwest from New Plymouth on the scenic Surf Highway 45 to Oakura, turn left onto Wairau Rd then on to Surrey Hill Rd, continue to the carpark at the end of the road. Follow the orange markers down the sealed section of road and across the farm land to the Historic Reserve.
Plan and prepare
Dogs, fires and camping are not permitted in this reserve.
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.
Location map
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