Plans progress for Gate Pā cultural centre

An artist’s impression of the Gate Pā/Pukehinahina cultural centre. Image: Supplied.

A 'nationally significant” cultural centre that will tell the story of the New Zealand land wars in Tauranga is one step closer.

The proposed national institute of the New Zealand land wars would be built on the Gate Pā Recreation Reserve, the site of the Battle of Gate Pā.

At a meeting on Monday, Tauranga City Council commissioners paved the way for the centre by voting to support, in principle, reclassification of a portion of the reserve to historic reserve, subject to public notification.

In 2020, the council received a proposal from Pukehinahina Charitable Trust, in partnership with Ngāi Tamarāwaho, to establish a cultural and historic centre on the Gate Pā Recreation Reserve.

Ngāi Tamarāwaho representative Buddy Mikaere told Local Democracy Reporting the reclassification was a 'great step forward”.

He said the national institute would be the only one of its kind in the country.

The centre would recognise the significance of the Battle of Gate Pā and other battles.

On April 29 1864 the Battle of Gate Pā was fought on a ridge known as Pukehinahina. The pā consisted of two redoubts with trenches and bunkers to trap the British.

Māori were successful in their defence, with 35 British troops killed and 75 wounded, twice the estimated Māori casualties.

Ngāi Tamarāwaho representative Buddy Mikaere said the centre would help raise Tauranga's profile. File photo: SunLive.

Mikaere said the centre was 'very important” and would help raise Tauranga's profile.

'It also fits in nicely with the changed school curriculum, which puts a greater emphasis on New Zealand history.”

Mikaere said the Pukehinahina Charitable Trust was working with Ian Taylor from Animation Research Limited and were hoping to create a virtual reality experience of the Battle of Gate Pā.

'So you can put your headset on and you can be on whichever side you choose, then you're right in the middle of the battle.

'We're going to produce something really amazing.”

The venue was expected to provide a workshop space, exhibition areas, performing arts space, plus room for a visitor experience of contemporary and traditional Māori life.

Architects engaged by Ngai Tamarāwaho described the design philosophy as a '…vision for Pukehinahina to portray the spiritual embodiment of memories, traditions and people” and 'the construction of an iconic multifunctional structure that again sees the return of Māori to Gate Pā.”

Buddy Mikaere said the view from the cultural centre would be the same as from the Pukehinahina ridge during the Battle of Gate Pā in 1864. Image: Supplied.

At the meeting, commissioner Shadrach Rolleston said the reserve was 'significant, not just locally but nationally”.

'[There's] an opportunity to create something quite special [and] significant from a national perspective. 'I think there's huge potential there,” he said.

Commissioner Stephen Selwood backed Rolleston's comments and said it was an important piece of Tauranga's history that needed to be told.

He said there was a 'risk and an opportunity” because the story needed to be told 'properly” in order to attract potential funders

'If we don't have a compelling story around that, we will struggle with funding. If we have a compelling story, I think it'll be a given,” said Selwood.

Commissioner Bill Wasley was 'really delighted” to be part of progressing commitments made to Ngāi Tamarāwaho more than 20 year ago.

In 1999 the council entered into a memorandum of understanding with the hapu to investigate options for a cultural and historic centre.

Commission chair Anne Tolley said reclassification of the land was intended to protect the historic site.

'As part of that, we've supported the establishment of this exhibition cultural centre and to tell the story of the land wars.

Mikaere, who was also the trust's project manager for the centre, said the estimated initial costs were around $250,000 and costs for the whole project were unknown as yet.

He said the target for completion was April 2026.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.

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13 comments

Parking

Posted on 28-07-2022 15:37 | By Angel74

And the parking is where, it's bad enough when there's a service at the church cars everywhere st becomes a 1 way accident waiting to happen ........


Pre European

Posted on 28-07-2022 16:36 | By Kancho

I wonder if the full history of hundreds of years of bloody tribal warfare will be told like the battle Te Pakanga O Kokowai for possession of Mauao or the musket wars which were also land battles amongst the trbes. Or will it be only about battles with Europeans ?


Forget the Museum

Posted on 28-07-2022 17:01 | By Equality

Well they don't need a museum now - hopefully the museum crowd will be happy with this substitute. We sure as hell do not want two expensive outfits to display the same maori 'treasures' !


Hmmm

Posted on 28-07-2022 17:13 | By Let's get real

Would it be culturally appropriate to suggest a similar edifice to celebrate the victories of the British forces (supported by numerous Maori groups) over Maori forces looking to exact revenge for past injustices from other Maori raiders and occupiers once they had access to modern weaponry...? One slaughter is no more notable than any other and doesn't deserve any more than a side note in a history book. Glorification of past battles isn't how New Zealand should be expressing itself and tourists really don't care. They're here for the landscape and not a pity tour.


Who will pay???

Posted on 28-07-2022 17:13 | By Equality

Who will pay for this obviously multi-million dollar edifice? And who will pay for the annual upkeep - wages etc ??


It’s a good idea…

Posted on 28-07-2022 18:01 | By Shadow1

but only as long as it tells the full story. No land war tale would be complete without a record of the Musket Wars which had started 30 or 40 years earlier and were concluding about then leaving a huge number of dead. Shadow1


Joyce road site

Posted on 28-07-2022 18:03 | By Kancho

Would seem to be a much better site with plenty more room access etc and same historical meaning to Maori


What happened to cancel culture

Posted on 29-07-2022 02:37 | By Johnney

While there appears to be a culture of cancelling all names related to British battles and military and trying to rename streets, we now want to celebrate this battle. The initial $250k will be used on consultants, consents, plans and council costs


White Elephant

Posted on 29-07-2022 03:42 | By Slim Shady

Total waste of money. It’s a monument.


Earthquake prone

Posted on 29-07-2022 13:16 | By CliftonGuy

Looking at the artist's impression of what will be built - on those skinny legs, I wonder how it will survive in a mild earthquake?


@angel

Posted on 29-07-2022 17:10 | By Kancho

Yep the Gate Pa site is limited for parking and Cameron road alterations may make that worse. It's a pity the site is going to lose the reserve and the church under pressure . Bet Mitre10 will lose parking when people take up customer parking instead. So much room at Joyce road for a much better position and amenities to be provided. Combine the two on the one site ...to sensible ?


SO, this SUDDENLY gets

Posted on 29-07-2022 22:27 | By The Caveman

SPRUNG on the TAURANGA ratepayers just before a Council election!! CLEARLY given the "design pictures" a big S _ _ T load of money has already been spent on the "idea". WHO has fronted the $$$$$$$ - the Tauranga RATEPAYERS, via the the LABOUR GMENT commissioners ! OR somebody else !! Given that the "dirt" is a public reserve, WHO in the COUNCIL has agreed to this proposed development without ANY consolation with the Tauranga RATEPAYERS ? And WHO is going to front the $250 MILLION PLUS cost - Tauranga RATEPAYERS !!! SUNMEDIA - you need to be asking the HARD questions !


@Caveman

Posted on 30-07-2022 17:28 | By Kancho

What elections ? We are not allowed to have an election the commissioners are in their positions until 2024 so we can't say or do anything about any spending they or future commitments . They are here to serve their masters not us.


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