1775
1800
1803
1814
1819
1820
1822
1826
1830
Te Kerikeri — The Historic Context:
The history of Te Kerikeri is both rich and varied. By ca.1775 Ngati Miru had been
driven away by Ngai Tawake and Ngati Tautahi (sub—tribes of Nga Puhi) with the
help Ngati Rehia. At the helm of Kororipo pa was Auha (Hongi Hika’s grandfather,
founderwancestor of Ngai Tawake). Kororipo pa was named after the natural
whirlpool (kororipo) that swirls where tide and river meet and was the sea port of
the inland stronghold of Ngai Tawake, Okuratope pa at Te Waunate. By the late
1700’s Hongi’s father, Te Hotete of Ngai Tawake, occupied Kororipo, followed by
Hongi I-Iika himself in the early 1800’s
In 1803 ships started coming from Port Jackson to trade in the Bay of Islands and
Koronpo became more important to Ngfii Tawake, becoming a trading port
Supplying pork and potatoes from impressive inland plantations.
In 1814 the Reverend Samuel Marsden set up the first mission station at Rangihoua
(Marsden Cross}. This was a barren place that did not fill the Society’s agricultural
and political needs but continued in some form until the 1830’s.
In 1819 Marsden purchased a huge tract of land, upwards of 50 square kilometres
around Kerlkeri, ostensibly for 48 axes. The Mission Station was shifted to Kerikeri
(to be know as Gloucester Town) under the protection of I-Iongi Hika, the man that
Marsden saw as a future “King” and under whose patronage Marsden’s colonial and
spiritual agendas might come to fruition.
The Missionaries, with Maori assistance, began building on the site now occupied
by Butlers Restaurant, and began fencing gardens and planting vegetables and fruit
trees.
In 1820 Hongi went" to England with Thomas Kendall of the Church Missionary
Society, and returned with a large cache of muskets. Nga Puhi hapu united and the
Musket Wars began. Kororipo became the waka departure poi.nt for the newly
armed force, which slaughtered or enslaved thousands of enemy, disrupting Maori
life throughout the North Island.
1822 saw the building of the l\/fission House and in 1824 the original wharf.
The Musket W/ars saw the slowing down of activities at the Kerikeri Mission Station.
The slaughter had become an embarrassment to Marsden and he could not be seen
to be associated with it. This, coupled with internal wrangles and stress related
illness saw Kerikeri lose in 1823 the Society’s principle station ranking, which went
to Paihia.
Hongi Hika and Rewa of Ngfii Tawake had undertaken to vacate Te Kerikeri in
favour of the l\/lissionaries. Thus in 1826 Rewa (close relative of Hongi) with his
faction Patukeha overcame the Ngare Raumati and shifted across the Bay of Islands
to Paroa Bay. In 1827 Hongi invaded W/hangaroa and shifted there. \X7ith the
removal of Ngai Tawake from Kerikeri, Kororipo pa fell into disuse and was never
fortified again.
By 1830 Kerikeri was firmly in the hands of the Church Niissionary Society, with
the only remaining Maori being servants and school children. With Ngai Tawake
departure and because of the Sociery’s internal politics, emphasis was placed on the
later established Nlission Station at Paihia under Henry W/illiarns.
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