Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Canterbury > Rangiora-Kaiapoi-Oxford-Darfield-Waipara District > Kaiapoi Pa
Kaiapoi Pa
- Location
- The site of the pa is on Preeces Road, off State Highway 1, just south of Waikuku.
- Description
Kaiapoi Pa is one of the most significant Maori historic sites in Canterbury. The famous pa site now has a huge Oamaru stone memorial and close by there is a lookout tower with interpretation signs. There is a short circuit walk with signs indicating the traditional names of different parts of the pa.
In 1898 a striking monument was erected on the surviving earthworks of one of the greatest Ngai Tahu pa, a centre of trade in greenstone brought over from the West Coast. The pa was sacked by the North Island chief Te Rauparaha in 1831 and is the most important site in the dramatic conflict between Ngai Tahu and Ngati Toa which dominated South Island history in the 1820s and 1830s.
The pa was surrounded on three sides by deep swamp giving canoe access to a lagoon on the river. (Now called the Ashley but to Maoris the Rakahuri.)
- Duration
- 0.15 hours
- Level
- Easy
- Amenities
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- Carpark
- Historical
- Lookouts
- Plant Life
- Source
- www.dayout.co.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk