About Te Ahurea
Journey back in time to experience life within an interactive pā site setting nestled along the banks of Te Awa o Ngā Rangatira. Explore, discover, experience and learn through sharing our culture, our past and our present within this historic meeting pool that completes the cultural balance of New Zealand’s foundation stories within Kororipo Heritage Park.
Te Ahurea Living Experience includes:
- Historical Exhibition
- Indoor Museum Displays
- Native Plants & Rongoā Gardens
- Whare Waka
- Wharehui, Kainga, Whata, Kouta, and Pātaka
- Beautiful viewing platforms looking over the Kerikeri basin
- Boardwalk pathways through the village grounds
- Mangrove boardwalk to pontoon
- Shop
Te Ahurea, formerly known as Rewa’s Village, is currently undergoing transformation with full reconstruction works due for completion by the end of January 2021. The Living Village Experience is the gateway toward future development, and the wide variety of cultural and historical experiences that will be on offer for visitors to participate and enjoy.
Located on the east side of Te Awa o Ngā Rangatira, drive directly to the car park located below the entrance to Te Ahurea at the end of Landing Road, or enjoy a stroll across the Walk Bridge from the Kerikeri Stone Store and Mission House situated directly opposite.
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
TE AHUREA – OUR STORY
The name by which we know the Pā – Kororipo – was in use from the earliest years of the Mission. It means
“swirling waters”.
According to oral tradition, Kororipo Pā was occupied by the tribe, Ngāti Awa, and by the Wahineiti and Ngāti
Miru people, until they were displaced in the 1770’s by the new alliances of Ngāpuhi (northern tribes) and, in particular, Ngāti Rēhia…
THE WAR LORDS
Learn about the various War Lords involved in the history of Te Ahurea:
REWA
HONGI HIKA
TĀREHA
NGĀTI RĒHIA
Over a thousand years ago the Mataatua waka arrived during the Hekenga Nui (Great Migration) with two chiefs, the captain Toroa and his younger brother Puhi, our great ancestor.
Entering the Hokianga Harbour, they were in danger of sinking on the tracherous sand bar. Someone called out ‘hokianga whakapau karakia’ – use every prayer you have…
FORMER REWA’S VILLAGE
Hongi Hika and Rewa were chiefs of the hapu, Ngai Tawake, part of the confederation of tribes that called themselves Ngāpuhi. Kerikeri inlet was on the perimeter of their tribal land and was their seaport, the place where they came to fish, to collect shellfish and keep their canoes.
The former village was named after Rewa, an eminent Ngāpuhi chief who grew to prominence…
TE AHUREA GARDENS
The story of the gardens began when ideas to celebrate the Millennium were debated by the committee of SPOKKSA (Society for the Preservation of the Kerikeri Stone Store Area Inc). Since the Bay of Islands has been one of the focal points of Natural History exploration in New Zealand it was decided to explore the possibility of planting an area administered by the Department of Conservation…
