Te Koru Historic Reserve

Te Koru Pa – A Great Stone Stronghold.

It is nearly 200 hundred years since this great pa was occupied. Before then people may have lived here for centuries. Te Koru’s downfall came in the age of the musket when Te Atiawa from North of New Plymouth overcame the defenders. It is thus a surviving example of a pa designed to provide protection against attackers armed with traditional weapons. When you first arrive the pa is not obvious. Walk down across the farmland and you will find a gate into the now bush covered fortified area.

The path into the pa is along a transverse ditch and bank. In the past there may have been a palisade on the bank. As you explore you will find stonewalls - a distinguishing feature of Te Koru.. Stonewalls are found elsewhere in Taranaki but are particularly impressive here. The friable nature of the volcanic soil makes them necessary. The walls have now eroded and debris has built up at their base but early visitors recorded they were up to 4.5 m (14 feet high).

You will discover Te Koru is strategically placed with the river on three sides. Its location in a sheltered river valley with fertile volcanic soils meant it was a good place for growing food. As you climb into the pa don’t fall into the many Rua or storage pits close to the walls - these provided secure dry places for storing crops such as kumara and the next season’s seed. The smaller holes may be postholes for buildings such as whare pataka (food storehouses).

Towards the top of the pa the terraces have been levelled for building platforms. The positions of the whare used for sleeping would have reflected status within the hapu with those of the chiefs in the upper levels.

A famous wooded carving was found at Te Koru in 1898. You will find it in the Taranaki Museum. (Puke Arike)

It’s a great location for a picnic but it would be inappropriate to have it within the pa boundaries.