Northland battlefield access improved

Raumoa Kawiti helps look after the Ruapekapeka Pa, built by ancestor Te Ruki. Picture / John Stone

A second stage of development by the Department of Conservation is under way at the historically important Ruapekapeka Pa site in central Northland.

Overall work includes safer parking for cars and tourist buses in a newly completed car park, landscaping, site beautification and track upgrading for easier access to important sites.

DoC co-manages the pa site with the Ruapekapeka Pa management trust, a charitable organisation representing six local hapu, all of whom descend from the original combatants in the last battle of the first campaign of the Northern War in 1845-46.

This marked the first of the New Zealand Wars in the 19th century and is why Ruapekapeka Pa, with its military engineering showing how local Maori adapted to superior British firepower, is of national significance.

The pa is the only battlefield of the Northern War where visible surface features remain.

Positions of British forces occupied during the battle are also contained within the reserve area.

As well as careful physical development at the pa site, an oral history project spearheaded by DoC historian Dr Peter Clayworth is to collect personal family histories about the battle.

Contributors will include descendants of combatants, such as Raumoa Kawiti - a descendant of the original pa builder, Te Ruki Kawiti.