Historic site set to open to the public

The Otumoetai Pa Historic Reserve will be permanently accessible to the public from Thursday.

The opening of the pa follows work carried out by Tauranga City Council, Ngai Tamarawaho and the NZ Historic Places Trust.

Once a heavily fortified settlement, Otumoetai Pa came under fierce attack throughout the 1820s and 1830s by northern tribes with muskets_but its strong defences held and it was never taken.

It was also the site where local rangatira rejected the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.

Before the establishment of Tauranga, Otumoetai Pa was once known as the capital of the district and continued to play a significant role in the history of the area.

Local Maori retain a special connection with Otumoetai, with Ngai Tamarawaho providing ongoing input into the management of the reserve with the council.

The official opening will be held at 9am on Thursday.