Herries Arch (Place)

Born in England on 19 April 1859, Herries was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating BA Hons in Natural Science in 1880. He emigrated to New Zealand the following year, and in partnership with a friend, purchased 900 acres near Te Aroha. In 1888 he married Catherine Roche, daughter of his neighbour.

Herries became a member of the Piako County Council in 1891 and served on many other public committees. He stood as a candidate for the Reform Party for Bay of Plenty against Hon. William Kelly, the sitting member. In 1908, because of boundary changes to the constituency, the name was changed from Bay of Plenty to Tauranga.

He was made Minister for Railways and and Native Affairs in Massey's government in 1912 and was knighted in 1920 at the time of the visit of the Prince of Wales to Rotorua. Herries was responsible for organising the large Māori welcome.

Herries died in his 64th year in 1923, leaving public bequests totalling £8,575. Of this total, £1,000 went to the Mayor and Councillors of Tauranga for the beautification of the Borough, another £1,000 to the Tauranga Hospital and Charitable Aid Board and £250 to Holy Trinity Church. His parliamentary colleagues on both sides of the House spoke in glowing terms of his abilities, particularly in Native Affairs, which he administered for many years [see Belgrave - "In government, Herries restructured the Native Department into an efficient land purchase department. Between 1911 and 1920 well over two million acres of Māori land were alienated, half of it purchased by the Crown. From Ōrākei to Urewera, Herries used his considerable skills of persuasion to induce Māori to sell. Long-held opposition to Rua Kenana and to the King movement led to the 1916 police raid on Maungapōhatu and to the imprisonment of Tainui conscientious objectors."]

Telegrams of condolence were sent to the Prime Minister's office by, among others, the Mayor and Councillors of Tauranga, the Tauranga Harbour Board and Reweti Ngatai, P. Tangihu, Te Mete Raukawa and Roretaua Tupaea on behalf of the Māori of Tauranga. [He] was cremated in Wellington and his ashes were accompanied to Te Aroha by many of his parliamentary colleagues, including the Right Honourable W. F. Massey. Representatives from all the local bodies in his electorate met the train, and the party took his ashes for burial in the Te Aroha Cemetery.

The Tauranga Borough Council used the money from his bequest to beautify the waterfront and to construct an archway into the gardens, renamed Herries Park. The work was undertaken by Mr Lowe, the Borough Foreman.

History:  
The Herries Arch in the Strand Gardens was erected in memory of Sir William Herries, who represented Tauranga as a member of the House of Representatives from 1896 to 1923. Herries, born in England in 1859, was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.  He immigrated to New Zealand in 1881 and purchased a 900 acre property near Te Aroha. Herries became a member of the Piako County Council in 1891 and served on many public committees. He stood as a candidate for the Reform Party for Bay of Plenty in 1896, against the Hon. William Kelly, the sitting member.
When boundaries changed in 1908 Herries was elected to the Tauranga seat, which he continued to represent until his death in 1923. He was made Minister of Railways and Native Affairs in Massey’s government in 1912. It is significant that the railway developments took place in the  Bay of Plenty (including Tauranga and Mt Maunganui) while he was responsible for this portfolio. This is no doubt why Herries Park was developed on land reclaimed for the railway work, which had been made over to the Tauranga Borough Council.
Although Tauranga benefited from the continuation of railway works in the district, Herries was generally thought to have been a better Minister of Native Affairs than of Railways. He was much admired and respected by the Maori people of his district. One of the highlights of this aspect of his career was the organisation of the huge reception for the Prince and Princess of Wales at Rotorua in 1920. Herries received a fine feather mat from the Maori people, and a knighthood from the Prince.
He died in office in 1923 and was buried at Te Aroha. His parliamentary colleagues spoke highly of him. The Tauranga Borough Council, the  Tauranga Harbour Board and the Maori of the Tauranga district all sent messages of sympathy to the Prime Minister.

The original intention of the Arch was to act as an entrance to a small garden situated between The Strand and the railway line, containing a lily pond and known as Herries Park. It took five years of discussion to decide on an appropriate memorial. In 1928, for the Tauranga Beautifying Society, Mr Charles Cameron (who had a fernery and was later borough gardener) and Mr Randle (who wanted to create a pond) met with the Endowment Committee to discuss the establishment of a memorial garden. A box hedge was planted along the railway side of the park. In July 1928 the Bay of Plenty Times reported that work on Herries Park was nearing completion. The erection of an arch proposed for the entrance had been delayed because a supply of stone from Aongatete had not arrived. The archway was finally erected at the foot of Harington Street by Mr Lowe, Foreman to the Tauranga Borough Council. A plaque was placed at the centre of the arch bearing the following inscription “Sir William Herries, Statesman, 1896 – 1923”. This marks the dates of his parliamentary career, not his life. 

No account of an official opening of Herries Park of Herries Arch has been found in the Bay of Plenty Times or Tauranga Borough Council Minute  Books. 
Tauranga has very few memorials to notable figures of the district. Canon Jordan’s statue in the domain acknowledges the public contribution of an early mayor and churchman. The Herries Arch stands as a tribute to a well-loved and well-known figure of the early 20th century. 
Many changes naturally occurred to the gardens over the years as plants grew, died and were replaced. However, when the Waterfront development took place in 2003 the decision was made to remove the garden and lily pond completely.

The Herries Arch now remains as the sole memorial to Sir William Herries.  
History of changes:  
1928    Arch erected at Herries Park. 
2000    Removal of garden and lily pond

The History text is from a 2009 document prepared by J. Rorke and N. Cable as part of a District Plan review, in a collection headed Built Heritage : assessing value, and numbered TAU-30.