WELCOME Nau mai, haere mai
Tāwharanui Regional Park is located on the eastern end of the Tokatū Peninsula. The 588 ha. park boasts some of the Auckland region’s most beautiful white sand beaches, as well as rolling pastures, shingled bays, native coastal forest and regenerating wetlands. Tāwharanui is New Zealand’s first integrated public open sanctuary where farming, recreation and the conservation of native species combine behind a predator proof fence.
This brief history tells some of the stories about the people who have lived at Tāwharanui and of the dramatic events that have taken place in this now quiet place. Visitors can see physical reminders such as archaeological sites, historic buildings and trees that tell of this remarkable history.
This carved pou (post) represents Manuhiri, the ancestor from whom the local tribal group Ngāti Manuhuri take their name, and their kaitiakitanga, or guardianship over Tāwharanui. The carvings on the base of the pou illustrate the treasures of the natural world and the special place that whales hold in local tradition. The pou was carved by Vern Rosieur, Ringi Brown and Harry Wikaire in 2005.
TäwharanuiOur History
No. 05
3745.PG.06/08
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What To See And Do• Stopattheinterpretationareajustinsidethesanctuarygateforparkandopensanctuary
information,andvisitthecarvedpou(post)bythewesternedgeofthelagoon.
• Takeoneofthesevensignpostedwalksonthepark.TheybeginatAnchorBayandtheLagoon,andrangefromeasystrollstothetwohourNorth/SouthCoastTrack.AfavouriteformanypeopleistheEcologyTrail(2hours)signpostedfromAnchorBay.
• Swim,surforsnorkelatAnchorBay,ordiveintheMarineProtectedareaonthenorthcoast.FishingisnotallowedherebutisallowedonthesouthcoastandatJonesBayneartheparkentrance.
• Stayawhileandexperiencethepark’shistoricalandnaturalvalues.Bookacampsiteinthecampground,orbookastayinthecottagethatisavailableforrental(phone093662000).
• Pleasedonotremoveordisturbanyarchaeologicalremainsorshipwrecks.Theyprovideanimportantrecordofourhistoryandareprotectedbylaw.
How To Get ThereTāwharanuiisa90kmor80minutedrivefromcentralAuckland.TakeSH1northtoWarkworth.FollowthesignstoMatakana.1kmpastMatakanaturnrightattheŌmahaturnoffanddrive11kmalongTakatūRoadtothepark.(Note:thelast6kmoftherouteisawindinggravelroad).
Waikōkōwai (Anchor Bay) 1990, G. Murdoch Figure1
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Early Ma-ori occupation
ThestrategiclocationofTāwharanui,anditsrichnaturalresources,madeitanattractiveplacetolivefromtheearliestperiodofhumansettlementintheregion.ThenameTāwhara–nuiliterallymeans‘theabundantediblebractsofthekiekievine’(Freycinetiabaueriana).Thisplacenameisusedhereinasymbolicsense,reflectingtherichresourcesofthearea,asexpressedinthefollowingwhakataukīorproverbialsaying,
Hewha-ta-wharakiuta,Hekikota-murekitai.
‘Thefloweringbractsofthekiekieontheland;thefleshofthesnapperinthesea.’
Thissayingdescribesthequalitiesofanideallivingenvironmentwhichcontainedtheabundantresourcesofboththeland
andseaincloseproximity.Thecoastlineprovidedawiderangeofseafoodsfrombothsandyandrockyshorehabitats.Areasofsandyandnorthfacingsoilswereidealforthecultivationofkūmara,withtheoncelargewetlandsprovidinganimportantsourceoffoodandthatchingmaterials.Food,timberandmedicinalplantswereplentifulonthepeninsula.
EvidenceofthelongperiodofMāorisettlementcanstillbeseeninthemanyphysicalmarksontheland.Theseincludefivepā(fortifications)thatdefendedtheland,hillsideterracesforhouses,foodstoragepits,shellmiddens(rubbishdumpsfromfoodprocessingandcookingwaste)andgrovesofkarakatrees.Sacredplacesassociatedwithritualandburialarealsofoundatseveralplacesinthepark.Theplacenamesandstoriesthathavecomedowntousfromthepastbringthisphysicallandscapetolife.ThesestoriesconfirmthatTāwharanuihasbeensettledbypeopleforaverylongtime.
TheparkislocatedontheTokatūPeninsulawhichtakesitsnamefromthedistinctive‘upstandingrock’locatedatTokatūPoint(seeFigure3).Tokatūwasanimportantlandmarkontheeasterncoastline,anavigationalmarker,andasacredplaceofritual.Thetraditionsoftheareatellusofancestralcanoesvoyagingalongthiscoastlinefromtheearliestperiodofhumansettlementintheregion.
Early ancestors ThetraditionsofthetribalgroupsoftheeasterncoastofTeTaiTokerau(Northland)tellusthattheareawasoccupiedfromancienttimes.InfactlocaltraditionstatesthatTeIkaroaāMaui,‘Maui’slongfish’(theNorthIsland)washauledfromtheseatothenortheastofTāwharanui.Afterthefishingupoftheland,theareawasoccupiedbyancientpeoplesknownasNgātiKui,TūtūmaiaoandTūrehu(WiripoPoteneinG.Graham,1927).
LocaltraditionalsotellsusthatthefamousancestorandvoyagerToitehuatahivisitedtheareaapproximatelyeightcenturiesagoandnamedmanyofitsprominentfeaturesincludingTeHauturuōToi(LittleBarrierIsland).ThelargeislandadjacenttoTāwharanui(KawauIsland)wasnamedTeKawautūmaroōToi,‘thesentinelcormorantofToi’,andtheHaurakiGulfwasnamedTeMoananuiōToi,‘thegreatseaofToi’.InlocaltraditionToitehuatahiiscreditedwithlivingforsometimeatMaraeroaonHauturu.ThedescendantsofToiwereknownas‘TiniōToi’or‘themultitudesofToi’,andsomeofthemsettledintheareawiththemoreancientpeoplewhowerealreadythere.Theyinturnwereabsorbedbylatermigrationsassociatedwithseveralofthefamousancestralwaka(canoes)whichvoyagedtoAotearoafromthePacific.
ngā waka tūpuna – ancestral voyaging canoesAtthetimeoffirstEuropeancontactthehapu(subtribalgroups)inoccupationoftheTāwharanuiareawereNgātiManuhiriandNgātiRaupō.Bothgroupsclaimedtheirmanawhenua,ortraditionalrighttotheland,onthebasisoftheirdescentfromtheTeKawerauancestorMakiandhissonsManuhiriandMaeaeariki(alsoknownasMaraeāriki)(NativeLandCourtKaipara,MB3,1873).LikeallofthesubtribalgroupsoccupyingtheTakapuna–TeĀraicoastlinetheyalsohadoldertiestoseveralofthefamousancestralvoyagingcanoeswhicharrivedinthedistrictinthe14thcentury.TheywereassociatedwithNgātiTaiwhodescendedfromTaihauaandTaikehuoftheTainuicanoe,aswellaswithNgātiTeWharau
Tokatū – ‘the upstanding rock’ at Tokatū Point, 1973, ARC Figure3
‘Tāwhara’, the flowering bracts of the kiekie vine, ARC Lindsay Charman photograph Figure2
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whoweredescendantsofHeioftheĀrawacanoe.TheancestralcanoewithwhichtheywerehowevermostcloselyassociatedwasMoekākara,alsoknownasWakatūwhenua.Thiscanoe,commandedbyTāhūhūnuiōrangi,landedatWakatūwhenuathesmallbaywhichisnowthesiteoftheGoatIslandMarineReserve.ThedescendantsofthecrewofthiscanoebecameknownasNgaiTāhūhū.TheyoccupiedTāwharanuifromthe14thtotheearly17thcentury.
Huruhuruwaea – ‘the parting of the hairs’Intheearly1600salargegroupofNgātiAwapeoplemigratedintotheAucklandregionfromKāwhia.LedbyMakiandhisyoungerbrotherMataahu,thesepeopleconqueredTāmakiandsettledatRarotonga(Mt.Smart).OverthenextgenerationtheyspreadnorthwardintotheMahurangiareaandsouthKaipara.FromanincidentinvolvingMakiduringtheconquestofsouthKaiparathetribalname‘TeKawerau’arose.Asa
resultthisnamereplacedNgātiAwaasthegeneralnameforthedescendantsofMaki,hisbrotherMataahuandtheirsonsManuhiri,Ngāwhetū,MaeaearikiandTāwhiakiterangi.IntimetheytookcontroloftheeasterncoastlineandoffshoreislandsfromTakapunatoTeĀraiōTāhūhū(TeĀraiPoint)throughdefeatingthelocalNgāohoandNgaiTāhūhūpeopleandintermarryingwiththem.DuringthisconquestMakiandhisfollowerswerevictoriousinabattlereferredtoas‘Huruhuruwaea’or‘thepartingofthehairs’.ThisfighttookplaceonthebeachatWaimarunearPukenihinihiPoint(seeFigure4)whichislocatedonthenorthwesternedgeofthepark.
AftertheconquestofTāwharanuiandthesurroundingarea,Makidividedthelandupamonghissonsandtheirfollowers.ThelandthatnowmakesupTāwharanuiRegionalPark,“belongedtoMaeaeariki.Makigaveittohim.Manuhirialsohadarighttoit.”(TeHemaraTauhia,NLCKaiparaMB3,1873:42).Manuhiri,theeldestsonof
An aerial view looking west to Waimaru and Pukenihinihi Point, ARC, C. Roberts photograph Figure4
Maki,andhisfollowersinitiallylivedontheeasternshoresoftheKaiparaHarbourandlaterspreadtotheMatakana–Mangawhaicoastline.TheirdescendantsbecameknownasNgātiManuhiri,‘thetribeofManuhiri’,oneofwhoseancestralhomeswasTāwharanui.NgātiManuhiristillliveinthesurroundingdistricttodayandmaintainTeKiriMaraeatŌmaha(Leigh).
ngāti raupō ThepermanentoccupantsoftheTāwharanuiareafromthetimeoftheconquestuntilthelate19thcenturywerethedescendantsofMaeaearikiwhooccupiedthecoastlinebetweenWhāngaparaoaandŌmaha.FromhissonsTeUtuandTeRupengacamethehapuknownasNgātiRaupoandNgātiKā.TheyoccupiedthecoastlinebetweenMatakanaandWhāngateau,althoughNgātiRaupōfocusedtheirsettlementatTāwharanui.TheoriginofthenameNgātiRaupōisnotknown,althoughitisthoughtthatthisnamederivedfromtheraupō(Typhaorientalis)wetland
thatoncecoveredthelowlyingflatlandintheparkpriortothelate19thcentury(pers.comthelateHamueraParaone).
NgātiRaupōwerethedescendantsofMaeaearikiwhohadtakenpartintheconquestofthelandwithhisfatherandbrothers.Throughintermarriagewiththeearlierpeoplestheyalsohaddirectancestrallinkswiththetribalgroupswhohadformerlyoccupiedtheland.TheymaintainedclosetieswiththeirneighbouringNgātiManuhirirelativeswhooftenoccupiedTāwharanui,andalsowiththeirNgātiRongorelativeswholivedimmediatelytothesouth.AllofthesecloselyrelatedhapuhadmadepeacesettlementsandmarriageswiththetribalgroupknownasNgātiWhātuawhoseinfluencewasgrowingintheKaiparadistrictatthistime.LikewisetheyhadconcludedpeacemakingallianceswithNgaiTāhūhūandNgātiManaia(NgātiWai)thetwolargeiwiwhooccupiedthecoastlinenorthofPaepaeōTū(BreamTail).AsaresultNgātiRaupōandtheirrelativeswereabletooccupyTāwharanuiinpeaceforseveralgenerations.
Punga waka (canoe anchors) from Jones Bay, Tāwharanui. J. R. Diamond collection Figure5
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conflict with MarutūahuInearly18thcenturythesubtribalgroupswhooccupiedtheeasterncoastlinenorthofTakapunawerecomingunderincreasingpressurefromthetribesofthepowerfulMarutūahuconfederationwhooccupiedtheHaurakiGulf.WhilebeingrelatedthroughTainuiandĀrawadescent,conflictdevelopedbetweenthesetwotribalgroupingsovercontrolofthebountifulfishingresourcesoftheeasterncoastlinenorthofWhāngaparaoa.FightingbetweenTeKawerauandtheMarutūahutribesbeganinthe1720sandcontinuedoffandonthroughoutthe18thcentury.Victoriesweregainedbybothparties,althoughbythelate1700stheHaurakitribeswerepredominant.
TheHaurakitribeswerenotdirectlyseekingcontroloflandbutwishedtogaincontroloverthefamedtaurangamangoorsharkfishinggroundsnorthofWhāngaparaoa.Atthesegrounds,whichincludedKawauBayoffTāwharanui,thousandsofschoolsharks,knownlocallyasmuri,werecaughtanddriedinlatesummer.TheywerethentakenhometotheHaurakidistrictasavaluablewinterfoodsource.DuringthisperiodNgātiRaupōandtheirrelativesremainedinoccupationoftheirland,althoughthedominanceoftheHaurakitribeswasshownbytheirannualoccupationofthenearbyMatakanaRivermouthareaduringthesharkfishingseason.
Bythelate1700stheTeKawerauconfederationcouldnolongertoleratethisongoingintrusionontheirancestraldomain,althoughinterestinglythechancetoattacktheHaurakitribescamefromwithinthelatterconfederationitself.InternaldisputeswithintheUriōPoupeopleinthesouthwesternHaurakiGulfarealedtoarequestfromTokawhero,anUriōPouchiefofKaweraudescent,toattackhisownpeopletoavengethedeathofhisfatherNgātara.Asaresultalargetaua(warparty)wasassembledatMahurangitoattacktheMarutūahutribes.ThistauawasledbyTeMaeaea,aNgātiManuhirichieftainwholivedbetweenPakiriandTāwharanui,andhisrelativePōnuiwholivedatMangatāwhiri(JonesBay,Tāwharanui).Hisimpressivefortifiedsettlement,(seeFigure7)locatedabovetheparkentrance,isstillknownas‘Ōpōnui’–‘thedwellingplaceofPōnui’.
TheTeKawerauwarpartydefeatedHaurakiforcesatMotukarakanearHowickandatKawakawaBay,andreturnedhomevictorious.DuringthelatterbattletheTeUrikaraka(NgātiPaoa)leaderTeMahiawaskilled.ThedeathofthisleadingHaurakichieftaincouldnotgounavenged.AsaresultHaurakiforcesattackedTeKawerau,withbattlesbeingfoughtasfarwestasHōteoandasfarnorthasWaihē(theMahurangiRiver).Warfarecontinuedbetweenthetwotribalconfederationsuntilthe1790swhenamajorpeacemakingmeeting,knownas‘Mihirau’,washeldatPūhoi.Taonga(heirlooms)wereexchangedandTeNgare,ayoungNgātiManuhiriwomanfromTāwharanui,wasgiftedtoaNgātiPaoachief.TeNgarehoweverrefusedtoconsenttothisarrangementandthefragilepeacewasbroken.
Toki (stone adze) from Jones Bay, Tāwharanui, J.R. Diamond collection Figure6
Figure7
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coveredalloftheflatsbetweentheparkentranceandtheMainBeach–AnchorBayarea.Knownas‘TeWhauwhauRangaunu’,thiswetlandwasusedbyNgātiManuhiritocatcheels(AramaKarakaTeHaututu,NLCKaipara,MB3,1873:37).Thewetlandwouldalsohaveprovidedfoodslikeraupōpollen,andwildfowlsuchaspūkekoandducks.Itsmarginswouldalsohavebeenidealforgrowingtaro(Colocasiaesculenta),andthemainwetlandwouldhavealsoprovidedvastquantitiesofbuildingandweavingmaterialsincluding:raupō,kuta(Scirpuslacustris)andharakekeorflax(Phormiumtenax).
Tāwharanuialsoprovidedavaluedsourceofkōkōwaiorredochrewhichwasmixedwithnaturaloils,andusedformanydecorativeandritualpurposes.ThekōkōwaioutcropbehindAnchorBay(seeFigure8)gavetheplaceitstraditionalMaoriname,Waikōkōwai–‘thebayoftheredochresource’.Whenharvestingtheredochreandtheotherresourcesofthearea,NgātiManuhiristayedatthesmallheadlandpāknownasPāpahi,atAnchorBay(Ibid.).
NgātiManuhirialsooccupiedPukeruhiruhiPāatPukenihinihiPointatthenorthwesternendofMainBeachonaseasonalbasisasexplainedbyPātaraPaniin1873,
“MyfathershadapāonthislandatPukeruhiruhi.ManyoftheMa-tuasdiedonthisland…Taimarousedtoliveonit,helivedinthepa-andhadhousesinit.MyfatherTeTokausedtogoonitconstantlytogetsharks–Thepa-wasstillstandinginhistimeandheusedtoliveinitwhilefishing.Theearthworksofthepa-arestilltobeseen.”(Pa-taraPani,NLCKaipara,MB31873:39-40)
Thecoastalforestwhichoncecoveredtheparkwouldhaveprovidedahugesourceoffood,medicineandbuildingmaterials.Awiderangeofberrieswereharvestedtoeat,aswerethe‘tāwhara’orediblebractsofthekiekievinewhichgivetheparkitsname.Smallertreespecieswerenotonlyusedforfoodbutformanyotherspecializeduses.Forexamplethelightweighttimberofthewhau(Enteleaarborescens)was
InamajorbattleatTeNgaere(ChristianBay)justsouthofTāwharanui,localchieftainsTeMaeaeaandTeAwhiwerekilledbyaHaurakiforceledbyPōkaithesonofTeMahia.Pōnui,theNgātiRaupōleader,wasbrieflyforcedintoexilewithhisNgātiRongorelativesinthesoutheasternKaiparaarea.SoonafterhereturnedtohishomeatTāwharanuiwherehelivedouthislifebesidehisfellowrangatiraTeRuaāTeWhenuaandMarokōpaitū.ThedirectdescendantsofthesechiefsweretooccupytheWaikauriBay-Tāwharanuiareauntilthemid1870s,andtoretainownershipofthewesternpartofwhatisnowTāwharanuiRegionalParkuntil1912.
tHE traditional cyclE of rEsourcE gatHEringAsnotedearlier,thestrategiclocationandrichresourcesofboththelandandseamadeTāwharanuianidealplacetoliveinpre-Europeantimes.NgātiRaupōandNgātiManuhirihadsettlementsatTāwharanui,whilemovingovertheirwiderancestrallandbetweenMatakanaandTeĀraiinaseasonalcycleoffishing,hunting,gatheringandharvesting.ArchaeologicalandtraditionalevidenceindicatesthatMāorisettlementwasfocusedaroundWaikauriBayjustsouthofthepark,andaroundtheMangatāwhiriStreamvalley(JonesBay).Associatedoutlyingseasonaloccupationsites,usedforbothgardeningandfishingactivities,werealsolocatedonthenortherncoastlinebetweenPukenihinihiPointandWaikōkōwai(AnchorBay).Inaddition,smallsitesassociatedwithfishingandshellfishgatheringwerelocatedaroundthecoastlineoftheTāwharanuiPeninsulaitself.
InthelowerMangatāwhiriStreamcatchmentthereareatleastsevenclustersofpitsandterracesindicatingintensivesettlementandthestorageoflargeamountsofkūmara.ThetwomostextensivesettlementsitesaretobefoundonthehighestpointsaboveeitherendofJonesBay.OnthetopoftheridgeabovetheoutletofthelagoonisanextensivedefendedsettlementknownasPā-hī–
‘theloftyfortifiedsettlement’.Thissite(R09/242)extendsfornearlyhalfakilometrealongtheridge.Itsearthworkshavebecomeindistinctasaresultoffarmingpracticessincethe1870s,howeveritincludesatleast24terracesand15pits,andwasdefendedatitseasternedgebytwolargeditchesandbanksthatare60metresinlength.
Anotherlargedefendedsettlementislocatedonthetopoftheridgeabovetheparkentrance.Thesite(R09/244),knownasŌpōnui,isrelativelywellpreservedandcontainsatleast25terracesand31pits(seeFigure7).Itwasdefendedbyadoubleditchandbankonitswesternboundary.ItissignificantthattheNgātiRaupōleaderRukaTaiahostatedintheNativeLandCourtthathewishedthisareainlandofWaikauritobe‘inalienable’(NLCKaiparaMB3,1873:29).Thesetwoextensivesettlementswerelocatedonidealvantagepointswithexpansiveviewsoverthesurroundingdistrict.Theyappeartohavebeenrelativelywelldefended,althoughthesmaller,moreheavilyfortified,headlandpāatWaikauriBayandPukenihinihiwereprobablyusedasrefugesintimesofcrisis.
ŌpōnuiandPāhīweresituatedwellabovethemosquito-riddenwetlands.Beinglocatedonhighridgetopstheyalsoprovidedwarm,welldrainedareasinwhichtostorekūmara.Thisimportantcropwouldhavebeencultivatedontheadjoiningnorthfacingslopes,aswellasonthewarmsandyflatsbehindMainBeach.ThislatterareaisshownonanearlyMāoriLandPlan(ML1874)asa‘nativeclearing’(seeFigure15).Itwasknowntohavebeenplantedinpotatoesuntilatleast1873(PātaraPani,NLCKaipara,MB3,1873:39).Thekūmaratuberswerestoredinrua(rectangularpits)withthatchedorearthcoveredroofs.Astaplefoodsourcethatwouldalsohavebeenharvestedfromgardenclearingswasaruhe,thestarchyrootofthebrackenfern(Pteridiumesculentum).
Anothermajorsourceofnaturalresourceswasthelargewetlandwhichformerly Kōkōwai (red ochre) deposit at Waikōkōwai (Anchor Bay), 1991, G. Murdoch Figure8
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usedtomakefloatsforfishingnets,andtheleavesofthengaio(Myoporumlaetum-whichisstillfoundgrowingnaturallyonthenorthcoastatNgaioBay),wereusedasaninsectrepellant.Theleavesofthenīkaupalm(Rhopalostylissapida)andthestemsofthetoetoe(Cortaderiasplendens)wereusedasthatchingmaterialintheconstructionofhouses.Karaka(Corynocarpuslaevigatus)treesarefoundbymanyoldoccupationsitesinthepark.Thefruitofthekaraka(seeFigure9)wasgatheredwhenripeinMarch.Itwassoakedtoremovepoisonoustoxinsandthenpoundedtoproduceatypeofflourusedasawinterfoodsource.
OverthecenturiestheMaorioccupantsofTāwharanuialsoharvestedtherichresourcesofthecoastlineandthesurroundingsea,asindicatedbythearchaeologicalevidencetobefoundinthenumerousmiddensfoundthroughoutthepark.OraltraditionsuggeststhatNgātiRaupō,NgātiManuhiri,andrelatedhapu,cametotheareatofishuntilwellintothetwentiethcentury.Fishbones,inparticulartāmureorsnapperarefoundinalmosteverylargemiddenatTāwharanui,
andmiddenanalysistodatehasidentifiedeighteenshellfishspecies.Itisofinterestthattheseincludebothlocalrockyshorespecieslikepaua(Haliotisiris)andsandyshorespeciesliketuatua(Phaphiessubtriangulata),aswellasestuarinespecieslikecockle(tūangi,Austrovenusstutchburyi)whichappeartohavebeengatheredfromthenearbyWhāngateauHarbour.LocaltraditionnotesthatwhalesoccasionallystrandedonMainBeach,providingaconsiderableamountoffood,andalsobonewhichcouldbeusedtomanufactureawiderangeoftools,weaponsandornaments.TheimportanceofwhalestoNgātiManuhiriisreflectedintheirinclusiononthebaseofthecarvedpoulocatedatthelagoon(seecoverfoldoutimage).WhaleshavecontinuedtostrandatTāwharanuionarelativelyregularbasisuntilrecenttimes.
contact WitH EuropEans and its iMpactsInDecember1770CaptainJamesCooksailedthroughthenorthernHaurakiGulf.AtthistimeheroughlychartedthecoastlineinthevicinityofTāwharanuiandnamednearbyPointRodneyafterViceAdmiralSirGeorgeRodney.Europeansailingvessels,mainlywhalingships,begantoappearonthecoastfromtheearly1800s,althoughthereiscurrentlynoknownrecordofthemvisitingtheMatakanaarea.In1820themissionaryReverendSamuelMarsdenandseveralothermissionariescampedonKawauIslandoppositeTāwharanui.InthefollowingyearCaptainJ.DownieoftheRoyalNavySupplyShipHMSCoromandelsailednorthupthecoastlineoutsideofKawauIslandwithaloadofsparsboundforSydney.Hesketched‘TeKawhow’(KawauIsland)andnotedthe‘reportedpassageanddeepwater’
offthehighpeninsulathatherecordedas‘TaWharranui’(seeFigure11).
Bythe1820stheMāorioccupantsofTāwharanuiwouldhaveseenEuropeanshippingtravelingupanddownthecoast,andhadcertainlycomeunderindirectEuropeaninfluences.Theseincludedtheintroductionofnewfoodsourcessuchaspigsandpotatoes,aswellasEuropeansteeltoolsandutensils.Sadly,liketheotheriwioftheregiontheyhadalmostcertainlybeenaffectedbytheintroductionofintroducedepidemicdisease,andinthemid1820stheyweretosufferthedisastrousconsequencesoftheintroductionofEuropeanweapons.
ngā pakanga ā te pū – the musket wars SomeofthesubtribalgroupsoftheMahurangi-MatakanaareahadtakenpartinanattackonNgāpuhiattheBayofIslands
From - A Sketch of the River Thames in New Zealand, J. Downie, 1821, ARC Figure11
Karaka tree with ripe berries, above Bluebell Point, T. Lovegrove Figure9
Shell midden exposure (R09/251) near Waimaru, Main Beach, 2004, ARC Figure10
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inthe1790sandhadbeeninvolvedinthekillingoftheNgāpuhichiefTeKoriwhaiintheMahurangiareain1820.AsaresulttheywereattackedbyaNgāpuhiforceatTeKohuroa(MathesonsBay)in1822.Inthisbattletheyfacedmusketsforthefirsttimeandsufferedheavyloses.Thenin1825alargecombinedNgāpuhiforcefoughtamajorbattlenearKaiwakaagainstaNgātiWhātuaforcewhichincludedNgātiRongoandNgātiManuhiriwarriors.Majorlossesweresufferedbybothsides,howeverthegreaternumbersofmusketsheldbyNgāpuhiprevailed.
Followingthisbattlethesurvivingmembersofthelocalhapufledbothnorthandsouthtoseekshelter.TeHemaraTauhiaandsomeoftheNgātiRongopeopleofMahurangisoughtrefugeintheBayofIslandswiththeNgāpuhichiefPōmareIIwhowasalsoofNgātiRongodescent.OthersfledtotheWaikatowheretheytookrefugewithNgātiKorokīatMaungatautarinearCambridge.NgātiManuhiriandNgātiRaupōtookrefugewithrelativeslivingnorthofWhāngarei,includingwiththeTeParawhauchiefsParihoroandTauwhituwhowerealsoofNgātiManuhiridescent.
TheMaoriinhabitantsofTāwharanuiweretoremaininexileuntilthemid1830’satwhichtimeRukaTaiahoandhispeoplereturnedtoWaikauriandMangatāwhiri(JonesBay,Tāwharanui).Nowonlyanextendedfamilygroup,theycontinuedtooccupytheirancestraldomaininmuchthesamewayastheirancestorshaddone.NgātiManuhirinowlivedpermanentlyintheŌmaha-Pakiriarea,butcontinuedtomakeseasonalvisitstothenortherncoastlineofTāwharanuitofishandcultivatetheland.BothgroupshadreturnedfromexiletoaverydifferentworldwhichnowhadapermanentEuropeanpresence.
NgātiPaoafromthesouthwesternHaurakiGulfhadmadeanearlypeacewithNgāpuhiandhadbeguntoventurenorthintothethenuninhabitedcoastalareanorthoftheWaitematāHarbour.From1832theyhelpedEuropeantimbertraderstocutkauritimberfromthecatchmentsoftheMatakana,MahurangiandPūhoiRivers.Bythelate1830sNgātiManuhiri,NgātiRaupōandrelatedhapuhadreturnedtotheirancestralhomesintheMatakanaarea.TheywerehoweverunawarethatEuropeantimbertradershadbeguntopurchaselargepartsoftheirancestrallandfromtheHaurakitribes.
the loss of the landIn1839WilliamWebster,anAmericantimbertraderworkingoutofCoromandelHarbour,purchasedthe‘PointRodney’blockfromNgātiPaoa.Thisblock,estimatedtobe4046ha.(10,000acres)inextent,includedtheentirecoastalareabetween‘PointRodney’and‘PointTāwharanui’.In1839NgātiPaoaalsosoldanestimated2023ha.(5000acres)toThomasMillonandJamesSkelton(seeFigure13).Thisblockofland,knownas‘TePau’,extendedoutalongtheTokatūPeninsulafromMatakanatothewesternendofTeNgaere(LagoonBay)nearTāwharanui.
These‘pre-Treaty’privatelandpurchaseswereultimatelyinvestigatedbytheCrownandtheacreagesgrantedweresubstantiallyreduced.Nevertheless,bymid1841NgātiManuhiriandNgātiRaupōhadlostasignificantpartoftheirancestraldomainwithouttheirknowledgeorconsent.TheirsituationwastobecomemoreperilousasaresultoftheCrownpurchaseoftheŌmahaandMahurangiblockfrom‘theunitedtribesofThames’on13April1841.ThispurchaserelatedtoallofthecoastallandbetweenTakapunaandTeĀraiPoint
extendinginlandtothemainridge,includingTāwharanui.IteffectivelyleftNgātiRaupōandNgātiManuhirilandless.
TheCrownsooncametorecognizethecomplexityofancestralinterestswithinthispurchaseareaandspentthenexttwodecadessortingthemessout.Bytheearly1840stheCrownhadrecognizedtheinterestsofresidentgroupslikeNgātiManuhiriandNgātiRaupō,buthadnotmovedtoformallycreatereservesforthem.In1845Parihoro,aTeParawhauchieffromWhāngarei,assertedhisrightsheldintheMatakanaareaasadescendantofManuhiri.Heundertookthemuru(ritualplunder)ofMillon’ssawingstationontheTokatūpeninsulaandthreatenedothersettlersinthearea.TheCrownretaliatedbyconfiscatingsomeofhislandatwhatisnowMarsdenPoint,althoughtheyultimatelypurchasedParihoroandTauwhitu’sinterestsintheMatakanaareawithapaymentof£150.Inthistransactionon1November1853,theTokatūPeninsulaeastofMillon’sclaimwas“reservedforthenatives’(seeFigure13).ThismeantthatthecoastalareabetweentheŌmahaSpitandLagoonBaywasfinallyrecognizedasremaininginMāoricustomaryownership.
Matatūahu – ‘the headland place of sacred ritual’, G. Murdoch Figure12
Parihoro’s Reserve Figure13
14 15
a time of great changeInthe1850sNgātiRaupō,nowledbyPorotakathesonofTaiaho,remainedinoccupationofwhatisnowTāwharanuiRegionalPark,althoughtheirmainsettlementwasatWaikauriBaywhichofferedamuchbetterallweatherlandingthanMangatāwhiri(JonesBay).NgātiManuhiri,nowundertheleadershipofTeKiri,continuedtovisitTāwharanuitofishandtocultivatelandonthenortherncoastline.NgātiRaupōhadaccesstoEuropeanmaterialgoodsviathenewlyestablishedvillageofMatakana,themilltownofWarkworth,andthecopperminingsettlementonKawauIsland.ThehapuhadnowadoptedChristianity,havingbeenvisitedfromtheearly1840sbytheReverendJamesBullerandothermissionariesfromtheKaiparaWesleyanMissionCircuit.OnhisbaptismPorotakaadoptedtheChristiannameRuka(Luke),andbecameknownasRukaTaiaho.HissontooktheChristiannameWiremuPātene(WilliamBarton)afteroneoftheorganizersoftheWesleyanMission.
Inthe1860soverfortyEuropeanfamilieshadsettledonlandintheMatakanaareaandathrivingeconomybasedaroundtimbermilling,boatbuildingandfarminghaddeveloped.TheMäoriresidentsofTāwharanuiwereinvolvedintheseactivities,althoughtheycontinuedtolivealargelysubsistencelifestyleontheirancestralland.From1862theyobservedthepurchaseofnearbyKawauIslandbyGovernorGeorgeGreyandhisintroductionofexoticplantandanimalspecieswithgreatinterest.Thisactivityreflectedthegreatchangethatwasthentakingplaceintheirancestralhome.Inrelationtothisan‘oldKaweraulady’Mererirecalled,
“Whenourpeoplefirstsawtheforeignbirds(emu)broughtbyGovernorGreytoTeKawauwecalleditthemoa,andmycousinTeHemaramadeaspeechtothosebirdsandcried,andweallcried,forwerememberedthoseoldproverbsandlamentsconcerningthepast,which
likenedthedisappearanceofourdeadparentsandancestorstotheextinctionofthatbirdtheMoa.”(JournalofthePolynesianSociety,Vol.28,1919:108)
In1864theMāoriresidentsofTāwharanuiweredisturbedtolearnthatalargenumberofMāoriprisoners,capturedayearearlierbyBritishtroopsattheBattleofRangiriri,hadbeenimprisonedatKawauIslandonoldshiphulks.
TauwhitutheTeParawhauandNgātiManuhirileader,thenlivingatWaikauriandMangatāwhiri,wasdisillusionedwiththeCrownandhadanolddebtofgratitudetoWaikato.HeandhisinfantsonhadbeensparedfromdeathbytheWaikatoparamountchief,andlaterfirstMaoriKing,PōtatauTeWherowheroinabattlefoughtnearWhāngareiin1827.TauwhituknewthattheKawauprisonershadbeenfightinginsupportofKingTāwhiaothesonofTeWherowhero.WiththehelpofNgātiManuhiriheorganizedwhaleboatsandferriedtheprisonerstothemainland.SomeofthemcameashoreonthesoutherncoastlineoftheTāwharanuiPeninsula.TheirlandingplacenearBluebellPointbecameknownas‘MāoriBay’(seeFigure14).AftercampingbrieflyatWaikauri,theescapeestraveledoverlandtoWhāngateauandbuiltafortifiedpositiononthetopofMt.Tamahunga.TheycreatedgreatconcernamonglocalEuropeansettlers,althoughtheywereultimatelygivenfreepassagebytheGovernmenttoreturntotheWaikato.
In1866anapplicationwasmadebytheNgātiManuhirichiefTeKiritoestablishtitletotheMāorireservelandsetasideinthevicinityofTāwharanuiin1853.Thelandwassurveyed1870/71intotwolargeblocks.TheyincludedtheTāwharanuiBlock(thehighTāwharanuipeninsulaitself)andtheMangatāwhiriBlockwhichextendedfromWaikauriBaytothenorthernendoftheŌmahaSpit.ThelandwasinvestigatedbytheNativeLandCourtatTeAwaroa(Helensville)1873/75,withclaimsbeingmadebythe
residentrangatiraRukaTaiaho,aswellasbyotherslivingasfarawayasWaitākereandtheKaipara.
AllclaimedrightstothelandonthebasisoftheirTeKawerauancestry,andspecificallythroughdescentfromMakiandhissonsManuhiriandMaeaeariki(Maraeāriki).InrelationtotheMangatāwhiriBlockJudgeH.H.MonroissuedthefollowingJudgementafterhearingextensiveevidence-“ItwasshownthatthislandbelongedtoMakiinformertimes.Hisdescendantshadoccupieditforgenerationsandbuiltpāsandhousesonitandcultivatedit.ThewholeofthepersonsprovedtobedescendedfromMakiareentitledtoclaim.”(NLCKaipara,MB3,1873:46)ItwasrecognizedthataprimaryrighttothelandlaywithNgātiRaupōandNgātiManuhiriwhoactuallyoccupiedtheland.Asaresultthenarrow214acre(86ha.)portionoftheMangatāwhiriblockbetweenPukenihinihiPointandWaikauriBaywassurveyedofffortheiruseastheMangatāwhiriNo.3Block(seeFigure15).
TitlewasawardedtoRukaTaiaho,hissonWiremuPāteneandTeKiriParaonethegrandsonoftherecentlydeceasedNgātiManuhirichiefofthesamename.
TheabsenteeownersoftheMangatāwhiriNo.1andNo.2andTāwharanuiblocksindicatedtheirwillingnesstosellthelandwhichwassoldintwotransactions1873/75toJohnAtkinson‘gentleman’ofDunedin.NgātiRaupōremainedlivingatWaikauriandMangatāwhiri(JonesBay)untilthedeathoftheirleaderRukaTaiahoinApril1875.AtthispointtheyleasedtheMangatāwhiriNo.3blocktoEmanuelChristian(whohadpurchasedpartofMangatāwhiriNo.2fromAtkinsonandsettledatChristianBay).TheythenmovedtolivewithNgātiManuhiriatPakiri.Atkinsonwasalandspeculatorandhequicklysoldtheremaininglandtoanotherwealthylandspeculator,Dunedinpolitician,JohnCargill.WithinamonthCargillhadsoldthepropertytoAntonioMartinforthesumof£1400sterling.
Māori Bay where the Kawau prisoners landed on 12 September 1864, G. Murdoch Figure14
16 17
the Martin Era 1877-1898AntonioMartin(1825-1882)thefirstEuropeanownertodeveloptheTāwharanuipropertyhadaninterestingpast.HewasPortugueseandhadarrivedinNewZealandunderthenameAntonioMathiasdeVarga.Adescendantrecalledthathehadbeen,
“shanghaiedfromtheFarilhoesislands(offthecoastofPortugal)bythecrewofanAmericanwhaler–theBarqueNoble,whichafterayearintheAntarctic,wasdamagedoffGreatBarrierIsland,thenranagroundintheThamesestuary…inJune1846.”(H.A.Martin1987:1)
OnarrivalinAucklanddeVargaimmediatelyadoptedthenameAntonioMartin,marriedAgnesFleming(1830-1907),andgainedworkinhisoriginaltradeasacooper(barrelmaker).MartindidwellinAucklandandby
1860hadasmallcuttertheAgnesbuiltatMatakanatoshiptimberandfirewoodtothelucrativeAucklandmarket.By1870Antonioownedasmallfleetofcoastaltradingvessels,ahotel,andafinehomeinHobsonSt.Auckland.HeandAgnesnowhadaverylargefamilyconsistingoffourgirlsandtensons.Antoniopurchasedthe4156acre(1681ha.)Tāwharanuiasasourceofkauritimber,firewoodandshingle.
Inlate1879MartinbuiltasmallshantybehindShingleBay(JonesBay),andbeganmillingtheTāwharanuiandMangatāwhiriblocksusingcontractorsandhiseldestsons.MuchoftheforesthadbeenmodifiedaftercenturiesofMaorioccupation,althoughalargeamountofkauriremainedintheMangatāwhiriStreamcatchmentandonthecentralpartofthepeninsula.Mānukascubcoveredalmostalloftheremaininglandprovidingahugesourceoffirewood.Kauri
waspitsawnonthepropertyandsledgeloadsofsawntimberandfirewoodwerehauledtoShingleBaytobeloadedintoMartin’scutterswhichstoodcloseoffshoreingoodweather.LogswerehauledtoShingleBayusingbullocks,thefirstofwhichweresaidtohaveswumashorefromthe29toncutterPhoenixwhichwaswreckedonPhoenixReefonthenortherncoastlineon4June1879.ThelargeanchorfromthePhoenixwaslaterrecoveredfromnearFlatRock,givingthelocalitythenameAnchorBay.
Aslandwascleared,pasturewassownandsheepandcattlewereintroducedtotheproperty.AntonioMartinenlargedtheoriginalshantyintoatwostoriedcottageandemployedafellowPortugueseJohnDaSilvaasfarmmanager.AfterAntonio’sdeathin1882,DaSilvaremainedasfarmmanagerunderthedirectionofAgnesMartinandhersonFrancisthenaged15.By1896thetimberhadlargelybeenmilledoutandwoolfromaflockof900sheepwasprovidingthemainincomefromthefarm.Thesheepwerehandshornandthebaledwooltaken
outfromShingleBaybypunttowaitingcutters.Bythelate1890sFrancisMartin,likehisbrothers,hadleftTāwharanuitoworkinAucklandasadraughtsman,andAgneshadretiredtoTakapuna.
Antonio and Agnes Martin c. 1875, H. Harvey and NZ Genealogist Figure16
The Martin cottage c.1880, Fred Marshall album Figure17
Māori land plan (ML 1874), showing Tāwharanui and Mangatāwhiri No.3 blocks, 1870, ARC Figure15
18 19
the Jones and young families settle at tāwharanuiOn23September1898the1681ha.MartinfarmwasleasedtoDavidJonesandtheDaSilvafamilymovedtoanotherMartinproperty,KaikouraIslandoffthecoastofGreatBarrierIsland.AtthesametimeEmanuelChristiangaveuphisleaseoftheMāoriownedMangatāwhiriNo.3BlockwhichwastransferredtoJamesYoung.HewasafarmworkerfromKawauIslandwhohadbefriendedNgātiManuhiriwhooftencalledatKawauIslandintheirtradingvessels.Young,knowntolocalMaorias‘HēmiIanga’,andhiswifeAlice(neeWyatt)movedtoTāwharanuiinlate1898withtheirthreechildren.Atfirsttheylivedinanīkauwhare(seeFigure18),andtheninasmallweatherboardcottagebuiltontheflatsimmediatelyinlandofthepresentdayparkentrance.
JamesYounginitiallystruggledtomakealivingbycuttingfirewoodfromthepropertyforsaletoAucklandmerchants,andby
sellingkahikateamilledfromthewetlandbehindwhatisnowtheparkworkshopanddepot.Thetimberandfirewoodweretakentothebeachbyhorseandsledgeandloadedbyhandontoscowswhichgroundedonthebeachatlowtide.Asthelandwasclearedpasturewasdevelopedforasmalldairyherd.ThemilkfromthecowswasusedtoproducehomemadebutterwhichwassoldtoshopsinAuckland.AliceYoungalsokept300hens,sellingtheeggsontheAucklandmarketaswellastolocalbushworkers.Thefamilykeptalargevegetablegardenandorchard,andfoundmuchoftheirfoodfromtheenvironmentaroundthem.Theycaughtlargenumbersoffish,whichweresmokedinthewheelhouseofthescowWaipüwreckednearJonesBayin1904,andsenttoAucklandwiththebutterandeggs.JamesYoungwasalsowellknowninthedistrictforhishoneymadefromnectarcollectedfromwildbees,andforhishome-brewedbeerwhichgainedextrapotencyfromtheinclusionofflaxroots.
AfterleasingtheMangatāwhiriNo.3blockfor14years,JamesYoungwasfinallyable
topurchaseitfromitsMāoriownersforonepoundanacrein1912.In1914,usingtimbermilledfromtheproperty,JamesYoungbuiltanewlargerhousebesidetheoriginalcottagewiththehelpofTomJenningsofWaikauriBay.TheisolationfacedbytheYoungandJonesfamilieswassymbolisedbythefactthattheYoung’snewhouseincorporatedaflagpoleontopofthefrontverandah(seeFigure19).Iftheywantedapassingsteamertostoptopickupproduceorpassengerstheywouldrunupaflag.WhileatTāwharanuiJamesandAlicehadafurtherfourchildren,althoughsadlytwoofthem,bothgirls,weretodiesoonafterbirth.EllieYoungdiedinDecember1901andJuneYoungdiedinFebruary1910.BothinfantswereburiedonMatatūahuPoint(seeFigure12)bywhatisnowtheparkentranceatthewesternendofJonesBay.Thefreesiasplantedontheirgravescanstillbeseentoday.
Matatūahu,meaning‘theheadlandplaceofritual’,hadobviouslybeensacredtoMāori,andthe1870TāwharanuiMāorilandplanshowsamarkedgraveonthepoint(seeFigure15).ItisofinterestthattheYounginfantswereburiedbesidewhataresaid
tobethegravesoffourFrenchsailors.EdgarYoung,sonofJamesandAliceYoungrecalledthisinterestingstoryaboutaneventwhichstillremainsamystery.
“DadtoldmeitwasaFrenchwarshipputtinguptrigstations(surveying)…roundthe1900s…theywentdown(KawauBay)inthemorning.MyfatherandMr.Daywerefencinguponthehillandintheafternoontheysawthemsailingbackup…theythoughttheymusthavetakenthesaildownbecausenexttimetheylookedtheycouldn’tseethemanywhere.Nextdaysailorsoffthewarshipcameandaskedthemifthey’dseenthemandtheytoldthemjustwheretheyhadseenthemlast.IneveraskedDadwheretheyfoundthem…theyburiedthemonourpointthere,rightagainsttheboundarybetweenusandMrs.Jones.Justupabout20feetwhereyoucoulddigadecenthole.”(EdgarYoung,June1990:8)
LivingbesidetheYoungfamilyweretheJonesfamilywhosettledatShingleBay,TāwharanuiinDecember1898.DavidJoneswasaWelshmanwhohademigratedtoNewZealandasa13yearoldin1864.
James and Alice Young’s first home at ‘Shingle Bay’, Tāwharanui, 1898, Leo Young album Figure18
Figure19The Young family on the verandah of their new house (1914), with flagpole on verandah, Leo Young album
20 21
JoneshadbeenamanganesemineronWaihekeIslandwherehemarriedalocalgirlEffieMcLeod.Inthelate19thcenturyheoperatedafirewoodandtimberbusinessfromFreemansBay,Auckland.ItwasthroughthisbusinessthathecameintocontactwiththeMartinfamilyandultimatelyarrangedaleasewithrightofpurchaseovertheTāwharanuiproperty.TheleasewasbackedbytheMayorofAucklandDavidGoldiewhoownedtheOceanicSawmillatFreeman’sBayandwasinterestedinmillingtheremainingtimberfromTāwharanui.
DavidandEffieJonesandtheirfivechildrensettledintheoldMartincottagewithbrightprospectsaheadofthem.“Thomas,EllisandDonaldhadawholefuturemappedoutforthemtofellthefirewood,kauri,posts,battens,shinglesandflax.”(ErrolJones,1989:2).Sadlyhowever,onlythreemonthsaftertheirarrival,tragedystrucktheJonesfamilyon28March1899.
“Itwasnoticedthatsheepwerestrandedbyarisingtideastheymovedalongthecoast(byElephantPoint),soDavid,hisonlygirlLaura,aged12,andtheyoungestRobert,togetherwithafarmassistantJohnDayrowedinaflatbottomedpunttorescuethesheep.Thepuntgratedonareefintheswellandtheboatoverturned.JohnDayrescuedtheyoungboybutDavidandhisdaughterweredrowned.”(Ibid.)
Althoughstrickenwithgrief,EffieJoneshadlittlechoicebuttocarryonwiththeleaseassistedbyJohnDayandafriendMargaretGordonwhocamefromWaiheketohelp.By1900,withthehelpofherfoursonsThomas(20),JohnEllis(19),Donald(17)andRobert(11),EffieJoneshaddevelopedasuccessfulfarmbasedonaflockof600sheep.ByFebruary1902shehadsufficientmoneyforadeposittobuythepropertyfromtheMartinEstate.
The Jones family c.1896, E. Jones, Fred Marshall album Figure20
Althoughsurveyedin1901,theroadwasnotformedouttoTāwharanuiuntil1915,anditwasoftenimpassableinthewet.AsaresultalmostallsuppliesandproducefromtheJonesandYoungfamilyfarmswastransportedinandoutbycoastalsteamersliketheKawau(seeFigure22),KōtitiandŌrewa.TreeswerefelledonthepropertybylocalcontractorslikeHenryGreenandhauledtoJonesBayasShingleBayhadbecomeknown.TheywerethenraftedandtowedtoAucklandbythesteamerRimu.Scowscameupontothebeachtoloadstockfromtemporaryyardserectedthere,andalsotoloadshinglewhichEffieJoneshadbeguntoselltoAucklandfirmslikeJ.J.CraigLtd.
TheoftenroughseasoffJonesBaymusthaveremindedEffieJonesandherfamilyoftheirtragicloss,inparticularassailingshipscontinuedtosinkwithinviewofJonesBay.
On15November1904thescowWaipūwaswreckedjusteastofScowPoint.
On19September1907thecutterEleanorwaswreckedatBluebellPoint,andthenon30September1908the63tonschoonerZiorstrandednearElephantPointbecomingatotalwreck.
Bythemid1900sDonald,ThomasandEllisJoneshadleftthefarmtoseektheirfortuneselsewhere,withtheyoungestboyRobertremainingatTāwharanuitohelphismother.Inmid1907EffieJonessoldthelandwestofPukenihinihiPoint,includingŌmahaSpit,toJohnWilsonwhowishedtotakesandandshellfromthecoastlineforuseinhisWarkworthcementworksandconcreteconstructionbusiness.WiththemoneyfromthissaleEffiewasabletofreeholdtherestofthepropertyandalsotofinancetheconstructionofanewhomesteadforhersonElliswhoreturnedtoTāwharanuiwithhisfamilytorunthefarm.
In1912EllisJonesbuilttheimpressiveJoneshomesteadwhichstillstandsnearthepark
AviewofJonesBayc.1920.JonesHomesteadandcowshedinforeground,MartinHomesteadandboatshedinbackground,withthescowJaneGiffordtakingonshingleonthebeach.FredMarshallalbum Figure21
22 23
entrancetoday(privateresidence).HeusedtimbermilledfromthepropertyandalsofromthekaurilogsthatbrokefreefromraftsandwashedupontheTāwharanuicoastline.
EffieJonesandhersonRobertremainedlivingintheoldMartinCottagebehindtheJonesBayforeshore.AfteronlythreeyearsEllisJonespurchasedhisownpropertyatMatakana.RobertJonesmarriedandalsopurchasedapropertyatMatakanaandEffieputtheTāwharanuipropertyupforsale.ItwassoldtoWilliamSinclairfromMaukuon20April1917.TheJonesfamilyremainedinthedistrictwhereDavidandEffieJonesstillhavemanydescendants.InthemeantimetheYoungfamilywastoremainontheneighbouringpropertyforanother35years.
a succession of owners 1917 - 1925WilliamSinclairwasthefirstofasuccessionofpeoplewhoweretoowntheTāwharanuipropertyoverthenextdecade.Allcontinuedtouseitasanextensivegrazingrun,althoughmanurewasnotappliedandpasturequalitydeclined.TomakeendsmeetseveralownerssoldshinglefromtheJonesBayforeshore,aswellasvastquantitiesoffirewoodtoAucklandfirmslikeJ.J.CraigandWinstones.SinclaironlyownedthepropertyforoneyearbutinthattimeusedalocalMāorifamily,theAstles,todraintheextensiveflatsbehindthedunesonthenorthcoast.
On9May1918TawharanuiwassoldtoWalterCareyofTeKōwhaiintheWaikatowhointurnsoldthepropertytoFrankThompsonofŌrinion8July1920.TheexperienceofThompson,whofarmedthelandforfouryears,typifiedtheproblemsfacedbyownersofthepropertyinthisperiod.Hefaceddecliningpasturequalityandsignificanttransportdifficultiesingettingmanureandothermaterialstotheproperty,andsendingstockoutbyscowfromweatherdependantJonesBay.In1924,whenheonlyreceived£5forfatsteersthathehadpurchasedfor£10asyearlings,ThompsonwasforcedtorelinquishthepropertytoCareywhostillheldthemortgage,
the Hydes – 1925-1940InFebruary1925TāwharanuiwassoldtoWilliamHydeofKaikouraintheSouthIsland.HydeandhiswifeElizabethbuiltupaherdofShorthorncattleandRomneysheep,andlikepreviousownerssoldfirewoodandshinglebycontract.WilliamHydecertainlybroughtchangetothefarmandthedistrictasrecalledbyLeoYoung.
“WilliamHydewasthefirstinthedistricttoowna2-standmotorizedshearing
standwhichcausedalotofexcitementamongthelocals,(and)wasthefirstinthedistricttointroducekikuyu(aSouthAfricangrass).Hebrought4plantsbackfromanagriculturalshowinAuckland.Williamgavegrandfather(JamesYoung)2plantsandtoldhimtotakespecialcareofthemasitwasgoingtobethegrassofthefuture.GrandfatherplantedhisplantsdownbytheforeshorenearMatatüahuPoint,whileWilliamplantedhisplantsoutnearAnchorBeach.”(LeoYoung,2004)
Thefarmwasuneconomicduringtheeconomicdepressionoftheearly1930sandWilliamHydereliedlargelyonearningsfromshingleroyaltiestofunditsdevelopment.Followinghisdeathin1937,thepropertywastransferredtohisbrotherHerbert.
BertHyde,likehisbrother,wasrememberedasa‘gentlemanfarmer’whohadimpeccablemannersandtreatedthefarmstaffwithrespect.UnderHyde’smanagementpasturesandfencingwereextendedandimproved,andby1939hehadbuiltupaflockof850breedingewesandgrazedapproximately250cattle.BertHydewasassistedbyashepherd,amarriedcoupletoundertakefarmandhousework,anditinerantfarm
shipwrecks on the tāwharanui coastline Between1871and1978ninevesselsareknowntohavecometogriefonorneartheTāwharanuicoastlinewiththelossoffourlives.Thisdoesnotincludethecurrentlyunidentifiedmystery‘wreck’withthelossoffourlivesasdescribedearlier.
• 28May1871–the15tonschoonerJuliawaswreckedatTokatūPointwiththelossofonelife.Theexactpositionofthewreckiscurrentlyunknown.
• 4June1875–the16toncutterJuliawaswreckedonTokatūReefwithnolossoflife.Theexactpositionofthewreckiscurrentlyunknown.
• 4June1879–the29toncutterPhoenix,struckPhoenixReefonthenorthcoastandbrokeup.
• 28March1899–anunnamedpuntownedbytheJonesfamilysankoffElephantPointwiththelossoftwolives.
• 15November1904–the42tonschooner-riggedscowWaipūwaswreckedatthe‘ShagRoost’near‘ScowPoint’.
• 19September1907–the22toncutterEleanorstruckMāoriRockoffBluebellPointandbecameatotalloss.
• 30September1908–the63tonschoonerZiorstrandedjusteastofElephantPointandlaterbrokeup.
• 6November1950–thefishingtrawlerCometwaswreckedonCometRocks,MainBeach.
• 19July1978–thefishingvesselGoldenBellewaswreckednearTokatūPointwiththelossofonelife.
MainsourceNewZealandShipwrecks1795-1982,C.W.N.Ingram1984
EdgarYoungshippingwooloutfromJonesBaytotheSSKawau,1935,LeoYoungalbum Figure22
24 25
labourerswhocarriedoutfencinganddrainagework.Asignificantproportionofthefarm’sincomecontinuedtocomefromthesaleofshingletoWinstonesatninepencepercubicyard.ThisshinglewasscoopedintoheapsonthebeachbyneighbourEdgarYoungandthenloadedbymechanicalgrabsontoscows.HydealsoemployedtwomenWallyandMactocutmānukafirewoodfrom‘WoodcuttersPaddock’onthepeninsula.ThesetwocharacterslivedinanīkauwhareinlandofBluebellPoint(seeFigure23).Thefirewoodwastransportedtotheclifftopbyhorseandsledthensentdownalongtimberchutetothebeachbelowwhereitwasloadedontoscowsbyhand.
BertHyde’sshepherdwasPeterThornton,anoldstylebushmanandstockmanfromTangiterōria.In1939thefarm’smarriedcouplewereJ.T.‘Jack’andMelvilleDiamondwhocametothefarmonagovernmentsubsidizedagriculturaltrainingscheme.Jack,whowasnewtofarming,learned
thebasicskillsfromPeterThorntonandundertookawidevarietyoftasksafterlearninghowtorideahorseandtouseahorseandsled.Melville,whowasacitygirl,capablyfilledherposition,onceshehadmasteredthelargeandtemperamentalcoalrange.ItwasherjobtocookforHydeandthefarmworkersasrequired,andtocleanthelargeJoneshomesteadwhichtheHydeshadrenovated.MelvilleoftenhadtocookforvisitorsatshortnoticewhichwasadifficulttaskasbasicsupplieswereofteninshortsupplyandhadtobecollectedfromChristianBay,afourmile(6.4km)horserideaway.
JackDiamond(laterbeawardedtheMBEforservicestolocalhistory)andhiswifeMelvilleworkedlonghoursbutenjoyedtheirtimeoffasMelvillerecalled–
“Sundaywasusuallyourdayoff,andwehadthebeautifulrockycoastline,thebeachesandhillstowanderaround,plustheaddedinterestinfindingevidenceofMāoritimesinthearea.Jackdiscovered
thatthetarpaulinwhichcoveredthehaystackwaskeptinplacewiththehelpofMāorianchorstones(seeFigure5)tiedonropesinvariousplaces.Nobodyelsewasinterestedinsuchthingssohereplacedseveralwithlessinterestingweightsandwhenthefamilyvisitedushehadseveraltransportedbackhome.Withthepebblybeachatourfrontdooritwasgoodtotakeadipinthesummereveningswhenwewerefree.Weoccasionallydidalittlefishing,notwithgreatsuccessuntiloneafternoon,notfeelingveryenergeticIreclinedinacosyhollowonthebeach,tiedmyfishinglineontomybigtoeanddreamedthetimeaway,untilgreatexcitementsomethingwasonmyline.FromthenonIcouldtellofthelargesnapperIhadcaught.”(M.Diamond,undated:7-8)
later owners 1940-1973On31October1940BertHydesoldthepropertytoTheodoreHodgesanAucklandbasedpropertydeveloper,althoughHyderetainedatwentyyearrighttomineshingle
ontheproperty.Hodgescontinuedtousethepropertyasanextensivegrazingrunandbuiltupthesheepflock.Healsoimprovedtheswampyflatswiththeintroductionofaproperlysurveyeddrainagesystem.In1943hedemolishedtheoldMartincottageandusedmuchofthetimber,andtheproceedsfromawinattheraces,tobuildanewshearingshedwhichisstillbeingusedbytheARC.
On9December1943TāwharanuiwassoldtoWilliamIngramaretireddentistthenlivingonKawauIsland.(Thecoverphotoshowsthepropertyinthatyear)AtthistimetheoceanbeachwasusedbylargenumbersofUSsoldiersundertakingtrainingforbeachlandingsinthePacific.ThepaddockwheretheyestablishedtheirtentcampisstillknownasCampPaddock.WilliamIngram’smarrieddaughterEleanoreaccompaniedhimtoTāwharanuiasherhusbandwastheninaPOWcampinItaly,havingbeentakenprisonerinEgypt.Eleanorerecentlyrecalledthefamily’stoughbutenjoyablethreeyearstay,asfollows,
J.T.(Jack)Diamondandfirewoodsledge,HomeBay,Tāwharanui,1939J.R.Diamondcollection Figure24
FirewoodcuttersWallyandMacwithMelvilleDiamondbytheirwhare,1940,WaitākereLibraryandInformationServices,J.T.DiamondCollection,749.1 Figure23
26 27
“FromKawauweweretakeninCaptainJockMcKinnon’sscowRāhiriwithallourfurniture,twocows,andahorseandlandedontheshinglebeachbelowthehomestead–areallyexcitingperformance!Thenourneighbour,EdgarYoung,withhishorsesandsledge,transportedourbelongingstothehouse…ItwaswaryearsandwewereonasmallpetrolallowancewhichonlyallowedustogotoMatakanaformailandsuppliesonceaweek,whilsttheYoungsdidasimilartripweekly…Wekilledourownsheepformeatandseparatedsomeofthemilktomakebutterfromthecream,shotrabbitsfordogtucker,kepthensandIsoonhadalargevegetablegarden…WehadblackpolledAnguscattle,Romneysheepandthreeridinghorses.Adieselenginegaveafewhoursofelectriclightbutthelargewoodburningstoveinthekitchenprovidedamplehotwater…GuyAshtonandhismatecamefor3-4daysshearing–averybusytimewhenmydaycommencedwithmilkingcows.Thenitwasaconstantmanagementofmealsandteabreaksuntilafterdinner.Cribbagegamesweretheentertainment.NoTVofcourse!Notabrightsociallifeasvisitorscameinfrequentlybutalwaysenjoyedsummerswimmingonthemagnificentbeaches”.(E.Clark,TOSSInewsletterNo.9,2004)
BecauseofillhealthWilliamIngramsoldthepropertytoPeterSchickfromŌriniintheWaikatoon4November1946.SchickandhissonsranAnguscattleandRomneysheeponthepropertyandgrewpumpkinsandjammelonswhichweretruckedtotheAucklandmarket.TheyalsocutlargequantitiesoffirewoodfromthepeninsulaafterbuildingaconcretebridgeacrossthestreamatAnchorBaywhichprovidedtruckaccessouttothePoint.
InMay1952SchickpurchasedthemajorityoftheneighbouringpropertywhichhadbeenfarmedbytheYoungfamilyfor54years,becomingthefirstpersontoownallofthe
landthatnowmakesupTāwharanuiRegionalPark.EdgarYoung(1905-1996)hadtakenthefarmoverfromhisfatherJamesin1938.Inearliertimeshehadcutfirewoodforsale,haddonethebackbreakingjobofloadingshinglefromWaikauriandJonesBayontoscows,andhadcarriedoutthelocalmailrun1925-37.EdgarandhiswifeIsabellanowmadetheirmainlivingbysellingcreamfromaherdoffiftydairycows.TheymadethedecisiontosellthefarmwhereEdgarhadlivedsincechildhoodbecauseitwasdifficulttorunthehomeandfarm,whilealsotryingtoeducatetheirfourschoolagesonsbycorrespondence.In1952theYoungfamilymovedtoWarkworthwheretheysettledbesidetheschool,hadanothersonChristopher,andexperiencedtheluxuryofelectricityforthefirsttime.
On12February1954PeterSchicksoldthe1453acres(588ha.)TāwharanuipropertytoKeithGeorgettiwhohadpreviouslypurchasedtheSchickpropertyatŌrini.KeithGeorgettiwasacapablefarmerwhohad
servedforseveraltermsontheexecutiveoftheSheepownersFederationandFederatedFarmers(Waikato).WiththehelpofhissonsPeterandTonyhesetaboutamajorupgradeofthefarm.Tenmilesoffencingwasrenewed,scrubwascut,andtherusheswhichhadtakenovertheflatsweremown.Mostimportantlyanairstripwasconstructedonthepeninsulain1956.Asaresultofaerialtopdressingpasturequalitywassignificantlyimprovedforthefirsttime,sothatby1958Tāwharanuiwaswintering200Herefordcattle,600drysheepand1500Romney-Cheviotcross(laterPerendale)breedingewes.InthisperiodtheGeorgettifamilyshippedintwofarmworkerscottages.(TheonethatisnowtheParkofficewasformerlyawarder’shouseatMt.Edenprison)KeithGeorgettialsoundertookmajorrenovationoftheoldJoneshomesteadandbuiltthestonewallwhichisstillafeatureofitsfrontage.
shingle extraction and the creation of the lagoonShinglehadbeentakenfromthe‘ShingleBay’foreshorebytheMartinfamilyandtransportedtoAucklandintheirownvesselsfromthe1870s.AntonioMartinwasparticularlyproudofthefactthatshinglefromthebaywasusedintheconstructionofSt.Patrick’sCathedral,Auckland.AllsubsequentownersofthepropertyuntilBertHydecontinuedtosellshinglefromthebayandsandfromtheMainBeachtoAucklandmerchantsonaroyaltybasis.ThroughouttheperiodthatshinglewastakenfromtheJonesBayforeshoreitwastransportedbyflatbottomedsailingscowswhichcamerightupontothebeachatlowtide.
OneofthesevesselswastheJaneGifford(seeFigures21and27)ownedbyReg
LookingnorthtoAnchorBayc.1943whentheMangatāwhiriStreamstillmeanderedacrosstheflatsbeforethecreationofthelagoon,LeoYoungalbum,TudorCollinsphotograph Figure26
EleanoreClark(neeIngram)andherpets,E.ClarkAlbum Figure25
28 29
Collinsfrom1917-1937.AcrewmemberonthisandotherscowsintheearlydayswasTudorCollins(1896-1969),theyoungerbrotherofRegandanidentityintheMatakanaarea.Herecalledthedifficultprocessofloadingshingleontotheoldsailingscows.
“Itwashardworkshovelinginthosedays,withnomachinestodothework…Wehadtowaituntilthetidehadgoneoutfortwohoursandthenpullthescowbroadsidetothebeachforloading.Assoonasthescowhitthebeach,alltheropeswerepulledtightsoshecouldn’tmove.Thenthebigmainplankwasputdowntothebeach,aswellassomesmallerones,sothattwentyorthirtybarrowloadsofshinglecouldbewheeledaboard…Weusedtotravelaboutachain(around20m.)alongthebeachtogetshingle…Whenloadingwasfinisheda
greatholewasleftinthebeach,buttheincomingtidewouldsoonfillitin…Withloadingcompletedandthetidecomingin,wewouldpullalloftheplanksaboardandlaythemontopoftheshingle,sothatwecouldwalkonthemwhilepreparingthesails.Wewerewhollydependentonthewindsaswellasthetides…Anaverageloadwas50to56yards.”(MemoirsofaScowman,TheJaneGiffordSociety,undated:2)
Inthelate1950sshingleextractionintensifiedatJonesBay,Tāwharanui.BertHydehadretainedacaveatoverthepropertytoextractshingleuntilhisdeathin1959,buthadearliercometoanagreementwithLanceJulianandhissonHarryofGulfFreightersLtd.(laterAucklandWaterTransportLtd.)toextractshinglefromthelowerMangatāwhiriStreamvalley.Boostedbymajorcontractsassociatedwiththeconstructionofthe
ThescowJaneGiffordwithRegCollinsalongside,1926,fromT.Ashby1975 Figure27
AucklandHarbourBridge,amajorshinglequarryingandprocessingoperationdevelopedontheflatsinlandfromtheMangatāwhiriStreammouthatthenorthernendofJonesBay.Theoperationwasstaffedfulltimebythreemenwho,alongwiththeirfamilies,livedinseveralcottagesbuiltbehindthedunes(seeFigure29).Shinglewaspumpedfromasmalllakeontheflatstoacrusherandscreenslocatedbehindthebeach.ThegravelwasthenprocessedtothemixrequiredandpumpedouttoseveraloldhulksfromwhichitwasloadedontobargesforexporttoAucklandandelsewhere.Inlateryearstheprocessedgravelwastransportedoutalonga450metreconveyor(seeFigure28)directlytowaitingbargesloadingonalltides.
In1964HarryJuliansoldhalfhismaritimebusinessintereststotheoverseasownedDillinghamCorporationwhichcontinuedtoextractshingleatJonesBayuntil1967.Onthecompletionofshingleextraction,theplant,andbreakwaterwereremovedfromthesite.ThisallowedtheGeorgettifamilytoonceagainliveinpeaceandquiet,anditleftbehindtheJonesBaylagoon(seeFigure29)whichisnowthehometolargenumbersofwildfowlandisavaluedrecreationalarea.Tāwharanuicontinuedtobefarmed
bytheGeorgettifamilyintothelate1960s,withmorelandbeingdevelopedandstocknumbersincreased.
tāwharanui regional park – purchase and early developmentTheAucklandHarbourBridge(opened1959),satonmassiveconcretepiersconstructedfromgravelextractedfromJonesBay,Tāwharanui.Thebridgealsohadanindirect,butultimatelymoreimportantlinkwithTāwharanui,asitstimulatedrapidurbangrowthontheNorthShore.ThenewlycreatedAucklandRegionalAuthority(ARA)quicklybecameconcernedwiththeassociatedgrowthinapplicationsforthesubdivisionofprimecoastallandontheeasterncoastlinewithinWaitematāandRodneycountiesfurthertothenorth.Inordertopreservethesehighqualitycoastallandscapesandpublicaccesstothecoastline,theARAbegantodeveloparegionalparksnetworkthroughtheacquisitionofWenderholm(1965),LongBay(1965)andShakespear(1967)regionalparks.
In1967theARAbeganlookingatpossibleregionalparkacquisitionsintheareanorthofMatakanaasdevelopmentproposalswerebeginningtoariseinthedistrict.Inthe
ThederelictmetalconveyorandhulkoftheformernavalminesweeperT140Sandra,JonesBay,1969,FredMarshallalbum Figure28
30 31
sameyearthe121ha.FraserpropertyonŌmahaSpitwasofferedtotheARA,andtheAuthoritybeganinvestigatingthepurchaseofthisandotherlargecoastalpropertiesinthearea‘forrecreationalpurposes’.InMay1968theGeorgettipropertyat‘TakatuPoint’wasofferedforsaletotheARAonacashbasisbutapricecouldnotbeagreedon.TheARAindicatedthatitwantedtopurchasethepropertyanditwasformallydesignatedasaproposedregionalreserveinlate1969.Wishingtoshowthedevelopmentpotentialoftheland,theGeorgettifamilyhadplansdrawnupforamajorresidentialandresortdevelopmentonthepropertyin1972.Althoughprotractednegotiationsbetweenthetwopartiescontinuedforsometime,theARAwasabletotakepossessionofthepropertyon20December1973.
TheparkwasinitiallyreferredtoasTakatuRegionalReserve,althoughinearly1974
theARAresolvedtoformallynameitTāwharanuiRegionalReserve,asitwasmore‘geographicallyappropriate’and“amoreeuphoniousword”.(ARAFile2397,23April1974).AdecisionwastakentodevelopTāwharanuiasa‘CoastalFarmPark’andFredMarshallwasappointedasFarmManager,laterParkSuperintendent,apositionhewastofillfor16years,ablyassistedbyhiswifeLynetteatrainedKāritanenurse.
Inthefirstphaseofdevelopment,whenFredwasassistedbyRangerJoeBuckton,effortwasfocusedonthedevelopmentofthefarmandassociatedfacilities.TheJoneshomesteadandfarmbuildingswererenovated,40kmoffencinginstalled,drainsandroadingweresignificantlyupgraded,andacausewaywasconstructedtogivebetteraccesstoAnchorBay.InthisperiodahighqualityHerefordcattleherd(seeFigure30)
JonesBay,TāwharanuiwhentheARAtookpossession,December1973,shingleworkerscottagesintheforeground,workerscottagesandshearingshedbeyond,‘JonesHomestead’intheleftbackground,andlagoonontheright.ARC Figure29
andPerendalesheepflockwerebuiltup,andtheyardsandshearingshedimproved.Theparkwasopenedtovisitorsforshortperiodsfromthesummerof1974-75,althoughitwasnotuntil1985thatitwasopenedonayearroundbasis.
Inthemid1980sthesecondphaseofparkdevelopmentbeganwithagreaterfocusonvisitorfacilitiesandtheenhancementoftheenvironmentalvaluesofthepark.FredMarshallwasnowassistedbyRangerColinWards(1985-present)andNeilEast(1988-1994).Importantimprovementsinthisperiodincluded:theinstallationofawatersupplydamtoserviceincreasedfarmandvisitorneeds,anupgradeofthewoolshed,theconstructionofaworkshop,thecreationofacampground,theinstallationofan
informationkioskatAnchorBay,andamenityplantingsundertakenaroundcarparkareas.On30July1981NewZealand’sfirstMarineParkwascreatedonthenortherncoastline,andthe‘EcologyTrail’wasestablishedin1989.
recent yearsFrom1992-1998TāwharanuiparkdevelopmentwasledbySeniorRangerKevinBealsunderthesupervisionofPrincipalRangerMathewVujcich.Inthisperiodtheparkwasformallymanagedasa‘remotepark’withanemphasisonretainingtheopenparksetting,promotingremotenature-basedrecreationalactivities,andactivelyenhancingthepark’secology.Asignpostedtracknetworkandamountainbiketrail
FarmParkCo-ordinatorTrevorWadamsandParkSuperintendentFredMarshall,withTāwharanui’sHerefordbreedingherd,1989,FredMarshallalbum Figure30
32 33
werecompleted,thecampgroundwasextended,andecologicalrestorationworkwassignificantlyincreased.Gullies,sidlings,andnativeforestremnantswerefenced,andrestorationworkbeganonthe‘CampgroundWetland’,withtheresultthateffectivepasturelandwasreducedto180ha.Fromthemid1990supto10,000nativeplantswereplantedannuallybyschoolchildrenandcommunityvolunteers.LongservingrangersinthisperiodincludedMauricePuckett(1994-present)andRobMouldey(1997-2007).
the open sanctuaryFrom1995theconceptofdevelopingTāwharanuiasa‘mainlandisland’wasexploredbytheARC,althoughalwaysasan‘opensanctuary’whichcombinedecologicalrestorationwiththeoperationofaworkingfarm,andtheretentionoffullpublicaccessandafullrangeofrecreationalopportunities.TheARCapprovedthedevelopmentofthe
TāwharanuiOpenSanctuary(TOS)in1999,andin2002JoRitchiewasappointedastheprojectco-ordinator.Theinitialphaseinvolvedfundraising,extensivebaselinemonitoring,followedbytheconstructionofa2.5kmpredatorprooffencefromJonesBaytothenortherncoast,andtheinstallationofabufferpestcontrolnetworkoutsidethefence.ThiswasfollowedbyanaerialpoisondroptoremovepredatorsSeptember-October2004.Allmammalianpestsexceptmicewereremovedfromthesanctuary.From2005ongoinghabitatenhancementhasbeenundertaken,withafocusonwetlandrestorationandtheplantingandseedingofpreviouslyfencedareas.
Followingtheremovalofmajorpredators,existingnativereptileandbirdspeciesgrewrapidlyinnumbers,withthebellbirdre-introducingitselffromHauturu(LittleBarrierIsland).Thisperiodalsosawthere-introductionofarangeof‘missing’bird,reptileandplantspecies,withthehighlight
todatebeingthepublicreleaseof40NorthIslandbrownkiwi2006-07.ThislatterspecieshadbeenmissingfromTāwharanuifor62years.(EdgarYounghadkeptthelastknownkiwiintheareaasapet,beforereleasingitonKawauIslandin1944,pers.com.L.Young,2008).TāwharanuiRegionalParkwasfinallyofficiallyopenedasanOpenSanctuarybyARCChairmanMikeLeeon19March2006.
AkeyfeatureoftheTOSprojectfromthebeginninghasbeenthatithasbeenundertakenbyARCParksandHeritagestaffinpartnershipwithheritageagencies,tertiaryeducationalinstitutions,tangatawhenua,schools,businesspartners,andmostimportantlythecommunitybasedTāwharanuiOpenSanctuaryInc.(TOSSI).FormedinMarch2002,TOSSIhasplayedamajorroleinfundraising,monitoring,pestcontrol,educationandplanting.TOSSInowhasamembershipofjustover400,hasitsownwebsite,runsplantingandworkdays,the‘ArtintheWoolshed’event,andin2006openeditsownplantnursery
onthepark.TheTOShasprovidedanationallyacclaimedbestpracticeexampleofco-operationbetweenlocalgovernmentandthecommunityinundertakingamajorecologicalrestorationproject.
After35yearsinpublicownershipTāwharanuiRegionalParkhasbecomeaspecialplacetoAucklanders,andtovisitorsfromallovertheworld.Itisaplacenotedforitsrelativeisolationattheendofametalroad,itsstunninglandscapesandexpansivecoastalvistas,aswellasitsincreasingnaturalvaluesandwiderangingrecreationalopportunities.Abovealltheparkisvaluedasanintegrated‘OpenSanctuary’whereconservation,farmingandrecreationtakeplacetogether,andwherethecommunityandtangatawhenuaaredirectlyinvolvedinthepark’srestorationanddevelopment.ItishopedthatthisbookletwillhelpthelongandrichhumanhistoryofTāwharanuitobecomebetterknownandincreasinglyvalued,foritshistorymirrorsthehistoryofourregionandournation.Thepredator-prooffence2004,ARC Figure31
TheofficialopeningofTäwharanuiRegionalParkasanopensanctuary,19March2006.HamishAlexander,ChairofTOSSI,CrSandraConeyandARCChairmanMikeLee. Figure32
34 35
our secret hideoutbyStephenGilbert,aged8,(2005)
Acampinggroundreallyclosetothebeach,Soft,whitesand,crawlingtothewhitehorses,Greeny-bluewaterhittingthesandhard,Flatrockisourdivingplacefullofshrimpsandcrabs,Bush,behindthebeach,
packedwithnativesforyouramazement,Asyouareslidingdownthegrassyhills,
oncardboardyoucometoabumpandflyoff,Täwharanui......sshhhhh,Don’ttellanyoneaboutit.
ThecampgroundatMainBeach,1988ARC Figure33
36
Thisbookletwaswrittenin2008byGraemeMurdochbasedonhisresearchundertaken1988/2008.TheauthorwouldparticularlyliketoacknowledgethecontributionsofthelateHamueraBrownandJackBrownofNgātiManuhiri,thelateGordonPongaDaviesofNgātiRehua,thelateEdgarYoung,thelateJohn(Jack)T.DiamondMBE,thelateMelvilleDiamond,MookHohneck,JohnR.Diamond,LeoYoung,ErrolJones,FredandLynetteMarshall,Mrs.EleanoreClark,AlisonStanesofTOSSI,aswellasstafffromtheWarkworth&DistrictsMuseum,theWaitākereCityLibrary&InformationServices-J.T.DiamondCollection,theARCCulturalHeritageteamandARCRegionalParks.
www.arc.govt.nz
TOSSIorganizedplantingday,May2008.A.Stanesphoto Figure34
‘OurHistory’isabookletseriesproducedbytheAucklandRegionalCouncil(ARC).Itispartofaculturalheritageinitiativeestablishedtoprovideinformationaboutlocalhistoryandregionallysignificanthistoricresources.
For further visitor information:
• ContacttheAucklandRegionalCouncilph:093662000
• VisittheAucklandRegionalCouncilwebsitewww.arc.govt.nz
For further reading and historical information:
JadeRiver:AHistoryoftheMahurangi,R.H.Locker,2001
TheRockandtheSky-theStoryofRodneyCounty,H.Mabbett,1977
Visit the TOSSI websitewww.tossi.org.nz
Visit the Warkworth and District Museum websitewww.wwmuseum.orconhosting.net.nz
Heritage Site
MAP KEY
Walking Tracks Lookout site Camping Information
Cover image: Jones Bay, Tāwharanui, 1943, Leo Young album, Tudor Collins photograph.
Täwharanui Timeline
Täwharanui Regional Park
1200s Mäori occupation of Tāwharanui begins.
Mid 1400s people from the Tainui and Moekākara canoes arrive in the district.
1700s conflict between the tribes of Mahurangi-Matakana and the Hauraki tribes.
1821 Captain Downie notes Tāwharanui on map of east coastline.
1825 musket raids, Ngāti Manuhiri and Ngāti Raupō in exile for a decade.
Today1841 Crown purchase Ōmaha & Mahurangi block from Hauraki tribes.
Mid 1600s battle of ‘Huruhuruwaea’ – the Te Kawerau descendants of Manuhiri and Maeaeariki settle in the district.
1839 ‘Point Rodney’ land block sold by Ngāti Paoa to William Webster.
1853 ‘Native reserve’ recognized by the Crown at Tāwharanui.
1873/75 Tāwharanui land investigated by Native Land Court and most sold to Atkinson. Ngāti Raupō and Ngāti Manuhiri retain Mangatāwhiri No.3.
1877 Antonio Martin purchases Tāwharanui and Mangatāwhiri No.s 1&2 blocks.
1898 David Jones leases Martin property and James Young leases Mangatāwhiri No.3 block from Ngāti Manuhiri.
1908 Essie Jones purchases Tāwharanui from Martin Estate.
1917 Jones family sell Tāwharanui.
1925-1940 Tāwharanui owned by Hydes, large scale shingle extraction begins.
1946 Peter Schick purchases Tāwharanui
1952 Young family sell Mangatāwhiri No.3 so Peter Schick becomes first European owner of all of what is now Tāwharanui Regional Park.
1954 Georgetti family purchase Tāwharanui, reticulated electricity arrives.
Late 1950s-1967 a major shingle extraction operation creates the lagoon.
1864 escaped prisoners from Kawau Island come ashore at Māori Bay.
December 1973 the ARA takes possession of Tāwharanui Regional Park.
1981 New Zealand’s first Marine Protection Area is created on the north coast.
1985 campground opened.
1989 Ecology Trail opened.
1999 preparatory work for Open Sanctuary commences.
2002 community partnership group TOSSI formed.
2004 predator-proof fence completed and poison drops undertaken removing all mammalian predators except mice.
1 March 2006 Tāwharanui Regional Park officially opened as an ‘open sanctuary’.
2006/2007 40 North Island brown kiwi released.