Keeping our places and stories alive is integral to our whakapapa and national identity. It also provides a way to understand our history, different generations and our diverse cultures, traditions, and communities.

On this virtual field trip we visited Ōtūmoetai Pā, Tauranga’s historic capital. It was the most significantly populated site in the Western Bay of Plenty between 1600–1865. The Pā was considered the ‘main stronghold’ of Tauranga Māori and was never taken by enemies. As it was situated on land confiscated by the government after the New Zealand Wars of 1864, the people who lived at Ōtūmoetai Pā were forced to leave their ancestral home.

In the webconference, kaiārahi Andrew is joined by Te Haana and Rachel from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga along with ākonga from Mangēre Central and Bucklands Beach Primary schools. A big mihi to you all.