57157
Alister Hugh Matheson papers
Datec. 1880 - c. 2000Reference NumberAms 209Collection SummaryThis archive consists mainly of material gathered by Alister Matheson in preparation for interpretation panels on the history of Maketū and Tauranga. There is also a considerable amount of information on discussions surrounding proposals to restore the river to its replacement route the surrounding wetlands. The inclusion of Barbara Faithfull's material on the Ōtūmoetai Pā ties in with the history of Tauranga and the history of the Pā site/Matheson family farm.DescriptionCollection comprises:
Maketū folders: (Box 359)
Typeset of "Events in the life of Phillip Tapsell" by E. Little. Tapsell reminiscences include: A.T.L, crops, biographies, beach, Māori Land Court, Māori Land Court minutes, Māori Land Court 1878, Arawa Trust, fish, Arawa Council, historic sites, Arawa, Arawa fighting, Maketū Pā, residents and descriptions, roads, sport, water, Wharekahu Church Missionary Society Mission Station, World War II.
Maketū folders: (Box 360)
Maketū folders: (Box 361)
Maketū folders: (Box 362)
Maketū and Tauranga folders: (Box 363)
Ōtūmoetai Pā:
For additional Alister Matheson collections see also: Ms 15, Ams 210, Ams 221, Ams 249, and Ams 405
For Ōtūmoetai Pā see also: Ams 63 and Ams 210.CreatorMatheson, Alister Hugh, 1925-2011LevelCollectionExtent6 boxesLanguageEnglish
Maketū folders: (Box 359)
Typeset of "Events in the life of Phillip Tapsell" by E. Little. Tapsell reminiscences include: A.T.L, crops, biographies, beach, Māori Land Court, Māori Land Court minutes, Māori Land Court 1878, Arawa Trust, fish, Arawa Council, historic sites, Arawa, Arawa fighting, Maketū Pā, residents and descriptions, roads, sport, water, Wharekahu Church Missionary Society Mission Station, World War II.
Maketū folders: (Box 360)
- Land Wars 1864
- Maps
- Newspaper cuttings from 1980s re debate over the state of Kaituna Estuary as a result of the diversion of the river/Kaituna Scheme
- Photocopy of ‘The dying estuary’, Soil and Water, April 1981
Maketū folders: (Box 361)
- Flaxmilling (Ian Matheson's notes)
- Reverend Ihaia Te Ahu
- Photocopied extracts from ‘Our great-grandparents were missionaries’, private publication for Spencer descendants by Dorothy Purvis, 1977
- Photocopied extracts from ‘Reminiscences of a New Zealander’ by Fred Spencer, Auckland Institute and Museum Library - private circulation
- Some sources consulted in research on Rev. Seymour M. Spencer and his missionary family
- Philip Tapsell
- J. J. Piercy (Postmaster)
- Journal of J. J. Symonds at Maketū
- Ringer family
Maketū folders: (Box 362)
- British Parliamentary Papers 1837-1840
- Extracts from ‘Letters and journals from Thomas Chapman (missionary at Rotorua) to Church Mission Society, London 1830-1869’
- ‘Narrative of a visit to Tauranga ... Oct 1831 - Nov 1831’ by Thomas Chapman
- Extracts from the diary of Eliza Stack (nee Jones)
- Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs Russell
- Extracts from journal of Captain I. R. Cooper covering time spent between Auckland and Taupo (including Wairere Track, Tauranga and Maketū)
- Extracts from journal of William Gisborne (mentions the Elms and Ōtūmoetai Catholic chapel)
- Dr W. K. Nesbitt (biographical material)
- Missionary register 1841
- Clarke family
Maketū and Tauranga folders: (Box 363)
- DNZB notes by Alister Matheson for Tauranga identity Michael Hodgkins 1902-1965
- Not the only Maketū (notes/cuttings)
- Extracts from journal of W. R. Wade at Tauranga 1835-1836
- Title search of old Matheson farm and nearby land and subdivision of same
- 1839 Journal and 1841 letters of Reverend J. A. Wilson
- Extracts from journal of Reverend Richard Taylor, 1849
- Biographical information for Carlos Kramer-Walter
- Extracts from journal of A. N. Brown to Church Missionary Society, September 1834
- Journals of the deputy Quartermaster in New Zealand,1864
- Bureta notes and correspondence with Arthur Sickling
- Notes on Mansel family
- Notes for Faulkner house site sign
- Photocopies of Daily Southern Cross articles:
-- ‘Overland to Tauranga and back’, 12 July 1865
-- ‘Steamers for coasting service’, 1 December 1866
-- ‘The war in Tauranga’, 25 May 1864
- Captain Fred Norris and the Bay of Plenty coastal trade’/[Kaituna Cut research] by Alister Matheson, Historical Review, 39(1), Bay of Plenty Journal of History, May 1991
- Photocopy of map ‘Crown portions of Tumu-Kaituna Block’ surveyed by James Baber? April 1900
- Maketū references from Daily Southern Cross microfilm
- Map ‘Proposed street - 50 feet wide - Borough of Tauranga’, 13 February 1940
- Map country in vicinity of Te Puke
- One sheet with maps showing Block II (Stewart's Town, Goldsmith 1888) and Block IX (S. Percy Smith 1888)
- Extracts from ‘Memorandum of voyage and journey to the southern parts of the northern island of New Zealand, October 1843- February 1844’
- Photograph of Te Rau College group c. 1866
- ‘Poututerangi’ na Haare Bidois
- Photocopy of letter from Thomas H. Smith to Government regarding allegiance of local iwi/hapu to King Movement or Crown, February 1864. Includes map and list of marked sites/Iwi.
Ōtūmoetai Pā:
- Material relating to university paper 3.208 compiled by Barbara Faithfull in 1975.
- Annotated ‘Field report: Site survey of a section of the former Ōtūmoetai Pa, Tauranga Harbour’ by Barbara Faithful (on which Alister Matheson's home/Matheson farm was sited)
- Letter from Barbara Faithfull to Alister Matheson, March 1997 responding to his inquiry regarding the finding of human remains on the site
- Hand drawn site plans
- Written report detailing archaeological features of the site/artifacts found
- Second set of photographs of the site and excavations
For additional Alister Matheson collections see also: Ms 15, Ams 210, Ams 221, Ams 249, and Ams 405
For Ōtūmoetai Pā see also: Ams 63 and Ams 210.CreatorMatheson, Alister Hugh, 1925-2011LevelCollectionExtent6 boxesLanguageEnglish
Asset Location
RoomClimate controlled room
Usage
AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Ams 209
Relates To
PeopleMatheson, Alister Hugh, 1925-2011 (Person)
Admin
Source of ContributionLibrary collection
Matheson, Alister Hugh, 1925-2011, Alister Hugh Matheson papers (c. 1880 - c. 2000). Pae Korokī, accessed 25/03/2026, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/57157
