Taranaki Historic Sites

Explore the complex military history of Taranaki through this collection of Māori pā sites and colonial fortifications. The list includes 19th-century redoubts like Saint Andrews and Omata Stockade, alongside ancient Māori earthworks at Parihamore and Puketarata. These sites, combined with dedicated memorials like the 57th Regiment monument, document the land conflicts and the New Zealand Wars, providing a physical record of the tactical landscape and archaeological heritage of the New Plymouth region.

Saint Andrews Redoubt

A colonial redoubt established during the Second Taranaki War in the 1860s to protect military settlements and the nearby signal station.

Omata Stockade

Constructed in 1860 on the site of an older pā, this stockade served as a key defensive position for settlers and British troops during the First Taranaki War.

Otūmaikuku Pā

An ancient Māori coastal pā site featuring traditional earthwork defenses.

Parihamore Pā

A significant Māori pā site showcasing well-preserved archaeological features, including defensive ditches and terraces overlooking the coastline.

Puketarata Pa

An archaeological site containing the remnants of a traditional Māori hillfort with visible defensive earthworks.

Te Mōrere Pā

Also known as Sentry Hill, this was the site of a major conflict in 1864 during the Second Taranaki War between Māori forces and British troops.

57th Regiment NZ Wars memorial

A monument dedicated to the soldiers of the British 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment who fought in the Taranaki campaigns of the 1860s.

Pukearuhe NZ Wars memorial

Commemorates the 1869 incident at the Pukearuhe Redoubt, marking a significant event in the later stages of the Taranaki land conflicts.

Puketapu feud memorial cross

A memorial cross marking the site of the 1854 Puketapu feud, a conflict triggered by internal disputes over land sales to the Crown.