February 07, 2023
Historic pa back in Ngapuhi hands
An event will be held on Sunday to acknowledge the return of a pa which plays a prominent place in the origins of Ngapuhi.
Pakinga Pa near Kaikohe was the home of one of Ngapuhi’s greatest generals, Mahia, and through him others like Tautahi and Hongi Hika.
Quinton Hita from Ngati Ueoneone, who lives near the base of the pa, says early last century the Maori Land Court determined the rights to it should go to Ngati Tautahi and Ueoneone.
Much of it ended up in the hands of a pakeha farming family, who have now gifted that part of their farm to the hapu.
The government stepped in with money to fence off the site and create an access track.
“So this Sunday we’ve got a visit from hopefully the Prime Minister but at least the ministers and that’s really an opportunity for us to acknowledge first and foremost the pakeha family, our neighbours who made the magnanimous gesture of gifting the land back and also our whanau and the variopsu people inthe goivernment departments who have suppoerted the development of the pa site over the past couple of years,” Mr Hita says.
He says Pakinga has similar significance as sitles like Ruapekapeka.
The opening of the pa site for the whole iwi will come later.