Paremata Barracks

Governor Grey had these barracks at the narrow entrance to the arms of the Porirua Harbour built for the garrison of Imperial troops he put here in 1846. The barracks were finished a year after fighting in the District was over. The redoubt, was built on the site of Paremata Pa, which had been occupied from about the early 1830s to about the mid 1840s, just prior to the building of the redoubt, by members of Ngati Toa Rangatira iwi.

Though important to the history of not only Porirua and Ngati Toa, but also New Zealand, this site has been let go. After initial damage from the 1855 Earthquake, they further deteriorated as the area became more populated and some of the stones were even stolen. The area is now known as Ngati Toa domain and managed by the Porirua City Council.

Paremata has become a busy and flourishing suburb of Porirua, marked by a congested roundabout on State Highway One.

Image Credits: Paremata Flat, Porirua harbour, 17 December 1949, by Leslie Adkin. Te Papa, Detail of corner of remains of Paremata Redoubt - to show 6 different ingredients used in its construction**, 18 September 1960, Wellington, by Leslie Adkin. Gift of Adkin Family, 1997. Te Papa