Ngaruawahia Attractions

After British gunboats on the Waikato had taken the Maori strongholds at Meremere and Rangiriri in 1863, Ngaruawahia was abandoned without a fight. After the battle of Orakau the king sought refuge with the tribes in King Country.

Maori land was then surveyed by the government and sold. Even after peace was concluded in 1881 it was many years before a new residence of the Maori kings was established here. Finally in 1920 land on the river was bought back from settlers and the stronghold of Turangawaewae Pa was built. A major part in the rebuilding of the royal residence was played by the Maori princess Te Puea Hernagi (1884-1952). The first building erected was the Arehurewa shrine for relics, followed in 1923 by the Kiwikiwi meeting house. The first post of the Mahinarangi meeting house was driven into the ground by the famous Maori politician Apirana Ngati. Turongo was built in 1933, a residence for King Koroki designed by Princess Te Puea (a richly carved six-sided tower-like structure). The Kimiora Cultural Complex (1974) contains a large mural. The queen's palace is not open to the public; it can be entered only on special occasions.