Day 27. Ruapekapeka Pa and trek through the district

Day 27. Ruapekapeka Pa and trek through the district

I had actually lost track of time the night before working on my blog and working on other stuff that I ended up going to bed at 1am. My computer is still on Australian time, so I am confused sometimes by the differences in the time zone. I did wake up tired, but was happy to be awake and ready for the next part of my adventure. Today, I was meeting up with my uncle Don who is now in a nursing home, but till able to get out and about. He was an ex dairy farmer and a barefoot water ski champ when he was younger. His family still own farms in the area and down on the south island too. We did go to the Kauri (Kaurihohore) cemetery where Aunty Nola was buried. Also included where the victims of a bus accident on a level crossing occurred in Hikurangi in the 1930s. Another grave was where Claude and Don’s parents were buried as well.

When we picked up Don the first place we headed towards was the historic location of Ruepekapeka Pa, which is not that far away and was the location of the last of the so called New Zealand Wars. Hone Heke was one of the people involved and the fortification was the strongest they have ever had. Some say that the pa was located in the middle of nowhere just to draw out the British troops. It has been said that no one won this battle even though the British did crow about it through dispatches. The feat of engineering was impressive that the pa was a model for British troops to practise in. I wandered around the area after we pulled into the carpark. The pa was actually sign posted and telling us that the location was sacred ground and not o eat food or drink. This was a place of significant importance both historically and archaeologically. Being located on the top of a hill helps too as you can see where the British troops were located. There was not too much in the way of signage around the area and nothing to say what you are standing on in one part is the forward British camp. On the way back I found another track to take, which was all bush. I had no idea where I would end up. Turned out this was another way of walking to the pa if you like the bush. Let’s say I was relieved not to turn around and walk back.

 We did go out past Monument road that actually has a WW1 monument down the end, which has some of Don and Claude’s family members the Delaneys. I think the war memorial was from the Tapuhi area. There were two of them located on the monument and it has cannon balls on the metal fence. Several were the real thing, but the rest were fake ones as they were stolen. You could tell which was which by tapping on them. Nearby was actually an old school building that has been used as a cow shed or for a farm and this was the old Tapuhi school building. You would never know what it was if you had driven past it. Not many people would drive past it as the area was isolated and well away from the main roads, very country. By following the road we ended up at the local pub, which was across from the Jack Morgan museum. For a Sunday it was very quiet and we were the only people to visit. The pub actually has some pieces from the past including a bottle from Hiroshima that had been bought back after the war.

 The Jack Morgan museum was interesting as it showed life throughout the area of the Hukerenui north of Whangarei. Not to be mistaken as Hikurangi, which is near the same town. Uncle Don had actually donated the milk separators to the museum and there was a large display of them. I did actually record a little of what he was saying about the milking implements. Unfortunately the video somehow ended up looking upside downish, although I was only really after the voice recording of it all. A little bit of family history stuff being done. I was also shown the Kauri gum that the diggers were after in the swamps. Some were made into interesting shapes including a bible and a wig. On out way home we did take a trip out to the farm out at Puhipuhi. We stopped at Don’s old place before we had to move on and drop him off at the place he is staying at. He did have some pictures of the district including of the Hikurangi saw mill that once operated with a train line that had wooden tracks. On the way home I did see a man with one arm and one leg get on a motorbike. He had two prosthetics, but I was surprised that he was allowed to ride what looked to be a dirt bike. He rode it really well too. Another great day was had and well worth seeing Uncle Don again.

Tip

Shirts that must be worn inside out all day should not be noticed until the end of the day