“Do not stop eating. Make your meal while there is still light.” These are the chilling words that echo through the history of Motutawa Pā. Today we stand where once stood a mighty pā, a fortified village, Motutawa Pā. It whispers tales of tribal conflict and strategic defense.
Motutawa Pā was once located within the bounds of what is now Avalon Park. The pā belonged to the Ngāti Tama hapu of Ngāti Awa. They were a people deeply connected to this land. The Wellington Tenths Trust research confirmed Motutawa Pā’s location.
Imagine this place bustling with life. The sounds of daily activities fill the air. Children play. Warriors train. People cultivated the land. The air was filled with smoke from cooking fires.
The story of Motutawa Pā takes a dramatic turn. It involves Te Takinga and Te Rangipuawhe. These were chiefs locked in a series of wars. Te Rangipuawhe and his people occupied Te Taiki Pā. It was located on the Motutawa Peninsula. Many sought refuge there. They anticipated a final assault by Te Takinga’s army.
But Te Takinga was cunning. He approached Te Taiki Pā at night. Only a few followers accompanied him. He walked alone into the pā. He found Te Rangipuawhe eating a meal. The meal included the preserved flesh of Te Takinga’s sons. Te Rangipuawhe’s men had killed them.
Te Takinga’s chilling words followed. Te Rangipuawhe, humbled, offered his land. He and his people left the district. Te Takinga then took residence at Te Taiki. His sons joined him. They divided the captured lands. Kiore, one of Te Takinga’s sons, controlled the land south of the Ōhau River. This land was near Motutawa.
Around 1820, war parties from Waikato attacked Rotorua and Te Rotoiti. People gathered at Motutawa. They sought safety. They strengthened defenses. They used palisading taken from Mourea Pā. It is said that 500 people were there. Fortunately, the pā was not attacked. The people returned home.
Motutawa remained occupied until the late 1830s. Most inhabitants joined the reoccupation of Maketu. Some stayed behind. During the 1860s, activity briefly increased due to the Tairawhiti invasion.
Ngāti Tama left the area in 1846. This followed an agreement with Governor George Grey. They were promised new reserves further up the Hutt Valley. Settlers then occupied the land. Thomas Mason was one such settler. He created famous gardens here.
Eventually, Motutawa Pā was abandoned. Te Taiki became an urupa, a burial ground. In 1898, it was designated as a cemetery reserve. Today, Te Taiki remains an important urupa.
Today, as we stand here at Motutawa Pā, remember the stories of those who came before. Consider their struggles. Think about their triumphs. Think about the strategic importance of this place. Let us honor the legacy of Motutawa Pā. Let us never forget its significance.