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Site of Ōtamataha Pā and Mission Cemetery, Tauranga, c. 1300- (Place)

SummaryThe site of the historic Ōtamataha Pā and current Mission Cemetery (also known as Tauranga Military Cemetery) is located on the northern end of the Te Papa Peninsula escarpment, overlooking the harbour entrance and Mauao.

Māori settlement in the area began as early as the 14th centrury, with the Ōtamataha Pā being constructed sometime after this, possibly during or after the 16th century. The defensive earthworks extended as far as the area now occupied by the rose gardens on Cliff Road, just north of Taumatakahawai Pā. The Ōtamataha pā site was abandoned following an attack by Hauraki iwi in 1828, though open settlement resumed on the peninsula. It is thought that the casualties from the 1828 attack are buried somewhere on the pā site.

In the mid-1830s a mission station was established nearby on the Te Papa Peninsula, and the northern section of the abandoned tapu pā site became the Church Mission Cemetery. Māori and British soldiers who died as a result of the Battles of Pukehinahina and Te Ranga in 1864 were also interred here. The cemetery officially closed for burials in 1884.
SourcesPhillips, K. (2017). Archaeological Survey and Assessment of Effects: Proposed Museum Development, Cliff Road, Tauranga. Retrieved from Tauranga City Council.Ministry for Culture and Heritage (2023). 'Tauranga mission cemetery', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/tauranga-mission-cemetery.McCauley, D. (2016, updated 2022). Mission Cemetery | Ōtamataha Pā (Est. 1838). Retrieved from https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com/Newspaper articles:Tranquil spot marks graves of pioneers » Bay Sun, 26 February, 1977.Soldiers' gravestones to be restored » Bay of Plenty Times, 1 May 2010, p. 10.$10,000 kicked in to fix headstones » Bay of Plenty Times, 31 October 19961Monument erected to the memory of Rawiri Puhiraki » Auckland Weekly News, 2 July 1914, p 45.Monument to Late Hori Ngatai » Bay of Plenty Times, 17 August 1920.New Military cemetery » Bay of Plenty Times, 16 April 1909Military cemetery changes queried » Bay of Plenty Times, 14 July 1976Historic cemetery being vandalised » Bay of Plenty Times, 23 July 1974.

Photographs

Tauranga Mission Cemetery, refacing headstones which had been broken

Mission Cemetery c1900

MISSION CEMETARY C1900

MISSION CEMETERY c 1900

Mission Cemetery Tauranga early 1900s

Mission Cemetery Tauranga c1910

Mission Cemetery 1949

Mission Cemetery

The grave of Captain Hamilton R N at Mission Cemetery Tauranga

Governor General's tour

Governor General's tour, Tauranga Mission Cemetery (Ōtamataha Pā)

Aerial view of Sulphur Point

Col Ward, Mission Cemetery, c 1910s (Ms 84)

Ōtamataha Pā (Mission cemetery), Tauranga c. 1930

Brain's Shipyard, Tauranga early 1900s

Wreath laying at Mission Cemetery, 1960

Map of Mission Station 1852

Mission Cemetery, Tauranga

Mauao from Taumatakahawai Pā (Monmouth Redoubt)

Battle of Gate Pā Commemoration Military Memorial Service at Otamataha Mission Cemetery (29 April 2014). Photographer Lee Switzer (16)

Battle of Gate Pā Commemoration Military Memorial Service at Otamataha Mission Cemetery (29 April 2014). Photographer Lee Switzer (3)

Battle of Gate Pā Commemoration Military Memorial Service at Otamataha Mission Cemetery (29 April 2014). Photographer Lee Switzer (1)

Fact sheet: Otamataha Pa - Mission Cemetery

Artworks

Tauranga harbour

Looking over the Mission cemetery towards Mauao

Ōtamataha pā Mission Cemetery; Te Papa, Tauranga

Te Papa, Tauranga

Publications

Battles of Gate Pā and Te Ranga Tour Brochure (2014)

Ngāti Tapu Historical Report

Otamataha

Te Papa Block: A History of Church Missionary Society and Crown Dealings 1838-1867

Stories - Places

Robbins Park (Tauranga)

Tauranga Mission Cemetery (Otamataha Pā)

Maps

Old Military Cemetery, Tauranga

Archive Files

Folder titled "Mission Cemetery"

Photo 09-132, "Postcard of Tauranga Mission Cemetery"

Usage

Kaitiakitanga StatementPlease use taonga Māori materials provided by Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries appropriately. This includes being respectful and mindful of the creator/s, as well as the mana and dignity of people, iwi and hapū group/s, and the environmental subjects depicted in the material.CopyrightTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries

Whakapapa

MoanaTe AwanuiWakaMātaatuaIwiNgāi Te RangiHapūNgāti Tapu

Location

LocationThe eastern side of the northern end of the Te Papa Peninsula escarpment. Cemetery access off Marsh Street.Latitude/Longitude^[1]

Admin

AuthorTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City LibrariesType of ContributionLibrary authority

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Site of Ōtamataha Pā and Mission Cemetery, Tauranga, c. 1300- (Place)