Ruapekapeka Pā
Image: Claudia Babirat | DOC

Introduction

Trace our heritage back through the large collection of Māori sites we manage.

We manage around 10,000 Māori sites

DOC manages around 10,000 Māori sites, ranging from sites of earliest Polynesian settlement to nineteenth-century Māori economic, spiritual and military sites.

All these sites are protected from development pressures and from avoidable harm, which makes them a key national collection.

Locations

Northland

Auckland

Waikato

Bay of Plenty

  • Matata Scenic Reserve
  • Matekerepu Historic Reserve
  • Maungaruahine Pa Historic Reserve
  • Moutohora, Raetihi pa/ Kumara gardens
  • Ohope Scenic Reserve
  • Paparoa Pa Historic Reserve, Paparoa pa/ Motu o rei pa
  • Tarawera rock art
  • Tauwhare Pa Scenic Reserve, 1610
  • Te Ikawhenua fieldcentre, Rangitaiki artefacts, 1800
  • Te Paripari Pa Historic Reserve, 1865
  • Te Tapiri Pa, 1865
  • Tokitoki Historic Reserve, Tokitoki Midden, 1315

Taupo-Tongariro

  • Tongariro National Park

East Coast/Hawke’s Bay

  • Heipipi Pa (titi-o-hawea) Historic Reserve
  • Hine Rae Historic Reserve
  • Opou covenant
  • Otatara Pa Historic Reserve, 1430-1640
  • Rangitoto Pa covenant
  • Tiwaewae Memorial Historic Reserve
  • Tutira Domain
  • Waiotahi Historic Reserve
  • Whakaari Pa/whaling station

Taranaki/Whanganui

  • Awa-te-take Pa Historic Reserve, Waitara
  • Kaukore waterwheel and water race, Whanganui River, 1854
  • Kawana mill and cottage, Whanganui River, 1854
  • Kawau Pa Historic Reserve, northern Taranaki
  • Ngangana Pa, Waitara
  • Okoki Pa Historic Reserve, Urenui (Sir Peter Buck memorial)
  • Pararoa Pa, Katere Scenic Reserve, New Plymouth
  • Pou Tehia Historic Reserve, Tongapurutu
  • Pukemiro Historic Reserve, Urenui
  • Pukerangiora Pa Historic Reserve, Waitara
  • Puketakauere Historic Reserve, Waitara
  • Puketarata-Parihamore Historic Reserve, New Plymouth
  • Tapuinikau Pa Historic Reserve
  • Tataraimaka Pa historic reserve, Oakura
  • Taumata Historic Reserve, Taumata, 1854/1920
  • Te Rau o te Huia Historic Reserve
  • Te Urinui Historic Reserve, Urenui
  • Waitaha Pa, Whanganui (very old pa)
  • Whatarangi Pa, inland Taranaki
  • Mahoetahi Historic Reserve, Bell Block-New Plymouth

Wellington

  • J.R. Barker Hapupu National Historic Reserve, Chatham Islands
  • Lake Kairae Historic Reserve, Chatham Islands
  • Mana Island, Mana Island habitation sites, 1500
  • Matiu/Somes Island, Te Moana-a-kura Pa, 1500
  • Taia Historic Reserve, Chatham Islands, pre 1769 
  • Te Kahu o Terangi, Kapiti Island 1832
  • Kupe's Sail, Wairarapa, c1100
  • Whitireia Park, pre 1769

Chatham Islands

Nelson/Marlborough

  • Bark Bay archaeological site, 1500
  • Crail Bay pits, 1600
  • Horahora Kakahu , 1840
  • Kaikoura Pa, 1600
  • Karaka Point Pa, 1600
  • Moioio Island, 1600
  • Nga Niho Pa, 1825
  • Parapara Spit, 1500
  • Pariwhakatau Pa, 1600
  • Peketā Pa, 1550
  • Puponga farm park archaeological sites, 1500
  • Sawpit Point archaeological sites, 1400
  • Titirangi farm park archaeological sites, 1150
  • Wairau Bar archaeological sites, 1250
  • Waitui gardens, 1500
  • Whangamoa Spit archaeological site, 1300

West Coast

  • Heaphy River mouth

Canterbury

  • Cave Stream Scenic Reserve, Cave Stream rock art shelter
  • Craigmore (ppl), Craigmore rock art site (administered by NZHPT)
  • Frenchman's Gully (ppl), Frenchman's Gully rock art site (administered by NZHPT)
  • Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Conservation Area, rock art shelter
  • Onawe Pa Historic Reserve, Onawe Pa (vested in Ngai Tahu)
  • Oruaka Pa Historic Reserve, Oruaka Pa (vested in Ngai Tahu)
  • Raincliff Historic Reserve, rock art shelter
  • Te Puke-ki-Waitahu Historic Reserve
  • Weka Pass Historic Reserve, rock art shelter

Otago

  • Mapoutahi Pa Historic Reserve, 1750
  • Nenthorn Conservation Area, rock shelter, 1350
  • Onewhenua Historic Reserve, 1350
  • Te Umu Kuri Historic Reserve, 1831

Southland

  • Enderby Island Māori occupation (1200 ad), Auckland Islands
  • Indian Island occupation site, Tamatea/Dusky Sound
  • Port Pegasus Māori occupation site, Stewart Island
  • Round Island occupation site, Preservation Inlet
  • Te Wera settlement, bluff

Further reading

Davidson, J. (1984) The Prehistory of New Zealand (Longman Paul Ltd).

Houghton, Phillip. (1980). The First New Zealanders. (Hodder and Stoughton, Auckland).

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