Perhaps it’s the whisper of the wind through the trees. Or the distant laughter of children playing. Elsdon Park stands as a testament to Porirua’s vibrant community.
Elsdon Park offers a green space for recreation. It is a Recreation Reserve with space to relax. But do you know how this park got its name?
Elsdon is a suburb of Porirua. It is located immediately to the west of the city’s CBD. The area was named after Elsdon Best. Best was a historian. He studied archaeological sites in the area.
Porirua itself has a rich history. Tradition says that Kupe was the first visitor. He bestowed names on significant sites. One example is Te Mana o Kupe ki Aotearoa which is Mana Island. Kupe is said to have left his anchor stone. It is called Te Punga o Matahouroa at Whitireia. Now, it is held at Te Papa Tongarewa.
There is evidence of people living in Porirua since 1450. This was during the “moa hunter” period of Māori history. The forests, sea, estuaries, and swamps provided abundant food. Various tribes occupied the Porirua area. They included Ngāti Tara and Ngāti Ira.
Ngāti Toa people migrated south from Kawhia. They took control of the Porirua coast in the 1820s. By the 1840s, they had built 12 pā. Takapūwahia and Hongoeka are still marae today.
Europeans began settling in the region in the late 1830s. This led to the controversial sale of most of the region in 1847. The New Zealand Company signed an agreement with Ngāti Toa in 1839. They claimed to have acquired the entire southern part of the North Island. Land Claims Commissioner William Spain found the purchase invalid. This included Porirua. Rising tensions led to the capture of Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha in 1846. Eight chiefs signed a deed in 1847. They sold 69000 acres for £2000. This comprised the area from Mākara to Paekākāriki. Ngāti Toa maintain the deed was coerced. They sought Te Rauparaha’s release.
The suburb of Elsdon itself has seen changes. Reclamation work in the 1960s altered the coastline. The city centre was built on landfill. This landfill is north of Parumoana Street and east of Titahi Bay Road.
Elsdon’s industrial area grew significantly. Kodak and UEB Industries opened factories in the 1960s. Whittaker’s confectionery manufacturers moved to Porirua in 1969. They still operate there today.
Elsdon Park is more than just a park. It is a place where history and community come together. Spend some time here. Reflect on the stories that have shaped this land.