A trench and three distinct pits. That’s all that remains. Welcome to Tauhinu Reserve. This small unassuming Auckland reserve holds a secret. It is the last vestige of Tauhinu Pa.
Tauhinu Reserve sits on a high point overlooking the Waitemata Harbour. It was strategically important. Ngati Whatua built Tauhinu Pa here. They could survey the harbour from this commanding position. The government later used it as an observation post. Imagine the views from here. The views haven’t changed much.
A 1973 survey revealed the extent of the pa. The earthworks covered only 400 square meters. The surrounding bush made surveying difficult. Much of the pa is lost to time and encroaching vegetation. Only these few remnants remain.
Think about the people who lived here. They built their homes. They farmed the land. They defended their families. They watched the ships sail by. They lived here long before Greenhithe was a suburb. They lived here before the Europeans arrived. They lived in a world very different from ours.
The reserve is small. It is easy to miss. It is easy to walk past without noticing. But if you look closely you can see the past. You can see the history. You can see the echoes of a people who lived here long ago.
Today Tauhinu Reserve is a place of peace. A place to relax and enjoy nature. But it is also a place to remember. A place to remember the history. A place to remember the people who lived here. A place to remember Tauhinu Pa.
Take a moment to reflect on this history. Let the quiet beauty of Tauhinu Reserve wash over you. Let the serenity of the place speak to you. Let the story of Tauhinu Pa resonate in your heart.