Puke-i-aahua Pa Palisade Project Blessed
Traditional Maori palisades, new signage and seating have enhanced the historic Puke-i-aahua pa site which was blessed at a dawn ceremony on Monday 14 June, during Matariki, the Maori celebration of the new year.
“The historic Puke-i-aahua Pa Palisades project is one the Waikato district can be proud of” said Waikato District Council Mayor, Peter Harris.
“This site is where our second Maori king surveyed his surrounds and chose Ngaruawahia, the cultural capital of New Zealand, as his home.”
Waikato District Council has led the project with the support of Waikato-Tainui, Waikato Foundation Trust and WEL Trust.
It has involved the construction of traditional Maori palisades, extensive landscaping and the installation of a number of carvings by local carver, Warren McGrath. Interpretive signage and seating has also been installed.
A commemorative plaque is to be unveiled at the official opening of the palisade site. The site has been under rahui which will be lifted on Matariki.
Members of the Waikato-Tainui tribe, and Waikato District Council members, staff
and contributors will attend the ceremony.
The historic site on Ngaruawahia’s Havelock Hill is visible from State Highway 1 to travelers driving to Ngaruawahia from the south.
For further information please contact:
Louise Belay
Communications Advisor
Waikato District Council
07 824 5889
louise.belay@waidc.govt.nz