Pa site wins second international tourism award

HISTORY: A cannon at Ruapekapeka pa remains, marking the final battle in the War of the North. PHOTO: RICHARD ROBINSON

The Ruapekapeka Pa site has been awarded the international tourism Green Flag Award for the second year in a row.

The high Northland pa site, from where Maori chief Kawiti held off a siege by the British Army, is famous in military strategy history for its networks of trenches, bunkers, tunnels and fortifications.

The location of the last battle of the Northern Wars, in 1845-46, between the British Crown and Maori, Te Ruapekapeka Pa has been recognised nationally and internationally for that warfare engineering feat.

The story of how, when the pa was breached by British cannon fire, the Maori forces slipped away under cover of the night into the forest - with Kawiti claiming neither side had won and predicting that the next war would be on paper - is also famous.

These days Te Ruapekapeka Trust works with the Department of Conservation to protect and preserve the pa and battlefield, and is planning to extend archaeological work at the site.

Trustee Allan Halliday said both organisations were proud to be second-time recipients of the award, which "flags" the world's best parks and green spaces.

"Te Ruapekapeka Pa and battlefield are significant sites to many, both Maori - including the various hapu that took part in the war on both sides - as well as non-Maori," he said.