Paroa Peninsula has two historically significant pā located on it, Kahuwera and Paroa.
Today, the 2.5m deep ditch remains an outstanding example of defensive earthworks, and the terraces of the pā are extensive and well defined.
The occupants of the pā were often hosts to crews of whaling ships in the 1800’s.
During this early contact period the chief of Kahuwera was Korokoro who was said to be also the chief of Paroa pā. The chief travelled to Port Jackson in Sydney with missionary leader Samuel Marsden and other prominent Bay of Islands chiefs Ruatara of Oihi and Hongi Hika in 1814.
When New Zealand’s first mission station was established at Oihi (Marsden Cross) these three chiefs were given semi-official law enforcement under missionary Kendall. In 1819 Marsden considered Kahuwera as a potential mission site but Kerikeri was eventually selected.
Korokoro died in 1823 and the opportunity came at last for Ngāpuhi to take over Kahuwera and they descended on the pā. The pā had withstood Ngāpuhi takeover for a number of years after the Ngāpuhi invasion. When French explorer, D’Urville visited Paroa Bay in 1827 he found the pā deserted.
Kahuwera was gazetted in 1978 as a historic reserve under the control of the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park. Today it is in the care of the Department of Conservation.
Visiting Kahuwera Pā
Follow the footsteps of Augustus Earle who visited the pā and enjoy the fantastic views of the Eastern Bay of Islands.
Getting there
Access is by boat only - there is no track.
References
The Story of the Bay of Islands Maritime and Historic Park. 1989. Department of Conservation.