Puke Kiwiriki Pā

What secrets does a hill hold? Pukekiwiriki Pā, also known as Red Hill, whispers tales of ancient chiefs and kiwi birds. This hill, the northernmost volcano of the South Auckland volcanic field, stands as a silent witness to centuries of history. Pukekiwiriki Pā erupted nearly a million years ago. The lava flowed west towards Papakura, and the scorching scoria temporarily dammed the Hunua Gorge. The hill’s flat summit became the site of a significant Māori pā. It was known by several names: Paritaiuru, Pukekōiwiriki, or Pukekiwiriki. The pā is linked to the Tainui ancestress Mārama, the second wife of Hoturoa, captain of the Tainui waka. Legend says she settled here after a quarrel with Hoturoa. Pukekiwiriki Pā became a home for the Tāmaki Māori people who descended from her, known as Ngā Marama. They later became part of the Waiohua. The pā held strategic importance. From its vantage point, the Manukau Harbour and Hunua Ranges were visible. Paths connected it to settlements in the Hunua Ranges and Bombay Hills. The name Pukekiwiriki translates to “the Hill of the Little Kiwi.” Another name, Pukekōiwiriki, means “hill of bones of the Riki people.” This refers to the remains of ancient chiefs found here and the red soil, stained by their deaths. The English name, Red Hill, simply describes the volcanic soil. Remnants of native forest cling to the slopes of Pukekiwiriki Pā. Taraire, pūriri, and kohekohe trees dominate these patches of ancient woodland. By the early 19th century, the inhabitants moved from the hilltop pā to a village on the slopes called Te Aparangi. This became the main settlement for Te Ākitai Waiohua. Extensive farms and orchards surrounded Te Aparangi. Crops like kūmara, taro, and wheat flourished, feeding the growing town of Auckland. In 1863, during the Invasion of the Waikato, Te Ākitai Waiohua abandoned their village. Pukekiwiriki Pā remains, a silent guardian of the past. Its red soil whispers stories of battles, chiefs, and kiwi birds, a reminder of the rich history embedded in this ancient land.