Within the earthworks of this redoubt, dating from 1869, is a magazine of pumice blocks. 'The redoubt had been established in 1870 to guard an important crossing of the Waikato River at its outflow from Lake Taupo.' A garrison of mounted police were stationed here until Te Kooti was defeated.
The Hall (1881) nearby was opened as a theatre, and converted to a courthouse in 1887. It is now a Kohanga Reo.
Heritage New Zealand tells us of a connection to New Zealand's first National Park:'A significant event is considered to have taken place inside the building on 21 September 1887, when a court sitting made orders for lands to be awarded to Te Heuheu Tukino IV (Horonuku), paramount chief of Ngati Tuwharetoa, 'for the purpose of conveying some to the Crown as a gift for a park'. This land incorporated the sacred mountains of Tongariro, Ngaruahoe and part of Ruapehu, which formed the nucleus of Tongariro National Park, the first national park in New Zealand.'
The Taupo Courthouse Historic Reserve was transferred to Ngati Tuwharetoa in a Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 2017.
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