Takapūwāhia

History

In the 1850s, Takapūwāhia had a population of over 250 Māori. As the crown acquired more iwi land for Pākehā settlement, the wider iwi was invited to settle in Porirua by Ngāti Maunu, the senior hapū of Ngāti Toa. Families came from Pukerua Bay and Taupo Pā, now known as Plimmerton. In 1889, the settlement moved from Te Urukahika (now called Elsdon, named after ethnologist Eldon Best) to its current location on the southern shores of the Onepoto Arm, and became the primary home to Ngāti Toa Rangatira. In 1910, a school was built next to the wharenui (meeting house). At an unknown date sometime within the late 1800s, Ngāti Toa Rangatira Hoani Te Okoro was given land by his tribe at Takapūwāhia, where he then later became Episcopalian minister. The settlement includes Takapūwāhia Marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The marae includes a wharenui, known as Toa Rangātira, also known as Parehounuku. It was opened in 1982, replacing the prior wharenui that had stood since 1901. On the 10th of October, Dame Whina Cooper and her large group of protestors were hosted at the marae by Ngāti Toa during the 1975 Māori Land March.