Rewi Maniapoto Memorial

There is a monument here to the Maori leader Rewi Maniapoto. When in 1863 Governor George Grey ordered the invasion of Waikato, Rewi responded by leading Ngati Maniapoto military forces in the ensuing war. He is reported to have declared at Orakau: "Ka whawhai tonu matou, Ake! Ake! Ake!" (We will fight on for ever and ever!) Built on the one acre section of Rewi Maniapoto's house the monument was originally unveiled in 1894. Sir George Grey paid for it and Rewi was buried there two months after its completion. The monument and park were refurbished with government support by the Rewi Maniapoto Reserve Committee in 1990.