Kakaramea: Military History and Māori Heritage

Kakaramea brings together the history of a colonial military settlement and that of Pariroa Pa. The Redoubt and the town’s Māori history can be explored through specific events, names, and dates. Kakaramea is located on State Highway 3. Those interested in cultural history can look beyond local stories to other destinations across the wider South Taranaki District.

Kakaramea’s Military Past

Kakaramea was established as a military settlement. After the engagement at Te Ngaio on 15 March 1865, General Cameron established the Kakaramea Redoubt. A blockhouse and a redoubt were built in the settlement. In 1866, Kakaramea was surveyed under the protection of a company of the Patea Rangers. Together, these dates trace the town’s military founding period.

The colonial Kakaramea Redoubt is also known as Cameron Redoubt. It was built on an already fortified pā, probably called “Kakaramea Pa.” The first hall on the site was built in 1875. The town’s history therefore spans its founding period, the survey, and a later building.

Pariroa Pa and Local Māori History

Pariroa Pa is located in a sheltered valley off Wilson Road. In 1894, Tutange Waionui and his wife, Ngaati, established Pariroa Pa on Wilson Road in Kakaramea. It replaced Huketere Pa. The sacred Makaka Stream runs past Pariroa Pa. The history of the place therefore encompasses not only military structures, but also the named places, people, and relationships in this Māori history.

The Te Arakirikiri fishing area is on the Pātea River, near Pariroa Pa. This connection to a waterway adds another cultural landscape feature to the history of the area. The distinction between the historical themes may help you decide what interests you: the Redoubt points to Kakaramea’s military founding period, while Pariroa Pa has its own history, including its establishment, its predecessor site, and the sacred Makaka Stream.

Cultural Destinations in the South Taranaki District

In the wider South Taranaki District, Pātea and Hawera offer a broader perspective on the region’s history. In Pātea, Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki is a purpose-built museum that embodies the spirit and energy of South Taranaki. The Tawhiti Museum in Hawera depicts Taranaki’s history through thousands of life-sized models and scale figures.

Traders & Whalers is also located at the Tawhiti Museum. The attraction presents the Taranaki coast in the 19th century through an underground canal ride. The Tawhiti Bush Railway in Hawera showcases Taranaki’s historic logging railways. This makes it possible to distinguish Kakaramea’s history, rooted in specific local sites, from the region-wide themes explored in the museums and attractions of the South Taranaki District.

The South Taranaki District also offers a culinary attraction: Mr Badger’s Cafe in Hawera serves fresh homemade pastries and coffee. Check whether the café is open on the date of your visit.

Choosing the Right Location

For orientation, Kakaramea is located on State Highway 3. This can help you choose a destination based on the historical themes that interest you most.

Discover more destinations: Waiongana, Okato, Omata, Waitara.

For the wider travel overview: Taranaki.