A few days ago a Times representative visited “Te Wairoa’ the property of Mr H.P. Clarke. The farm is situated about six miles from Tauranga wharf, on the Katikati main road. The holding may also be reached by water and is bounded for a considerable distance on the eastern side by the navigable Wairoa River… . The total area of the farm is 430 acres, consisting of 203 acres previously owned by the late Captain Clarke - father of the present owner - and 224 acres purchased in recent years by Mr H.P. Clarke from Messers Laurie Bros. and the Assets Realisation board. In Captain Clarkes time he engaged in sheep farming and cropping but Mr H.P. Clarke now puts his faith principally in dairying… .
The highest point on the property is an eminence, know to the natives as Pukewhanake, which was in former days a strongly-fortified Maori pa. The fortifications have long since been dismantled to give place to English grasses. Pukewhanake overlooks the mouth of the Wairoa and the vicinity must have been the scene of many stirring conflicts between the natives. Numerous Maori weapons have been found in the vicinity including stone axes and tomahawks, and valuable greenstone tiki picked up about eight years ago and subsequently disposed of to Captain Mair. A portion of the extreme end of the pa which was separated from the main pa by a ditch 30 feet wide and 15 feet deep may still be seen in its natural state. From the top of Pukewhanake is a magnificent view of Mount Maunganui, Mayor, Karewa, Rangiwaea, Matakana and Motuhoa Islands and all the surrounding country from Tauranga to Katikati.90
This quote provides evidence that Pukewhanake had been plundered for cultural artefacts once it came into private ownership. It is unlikely that any of the taonga unearthed were given over to Maori, and indeed the pounamu tiki had been given to Captain Mair, who today would seem to have been a most inappropriate recipient.
Wairoa Bridge Construction
The most obvious desecration of Pukewhanake occurred in 1965 as a result of work carried out by the Crown to improve the bridge crossing the Wairoa River. The river was first bridged in 1875, when it provided an important link north for the growing settlement of Tauranga. In 1915 the original bridge was replaced by a one lane concrete bridge. By 1964 the Ministry of Works found it had to replace the concrete bridge because it had become unstable:
Due to flood scouring, settlement is taking place in Pier Foundations with resultant serious damage to the superstructure and consequent costly repairs. Lately, 30 ton loads, and 15 m.p.h. speed restrictions, have been imposed by the Resident Engineer.91
Replacing the bridge also meant constructing new approaches to the bridge, and realigning State Highway 2 with the new bridge. The first stage was to deposit fill material for the bridge approaches. Work started in February 1965 on the eastern approach. Because the ground was swampy the approach was initially built up ten feet above the proposed grade so that it would settle properly. The resident engineer reported that when construction of the bridge was completed the excess fill would then be deposited between the old and new bridge to form a riverside park.92
90Bay of Plenty Times, 1 April 1910
91 Designing Draughtsman to Chief Designing Engineer, 11 February 1965, W 72/2/3A/2 Tauranga Section, National Archives (NA) Records Centre, Auckland
92 Resident Engineer to District Commisioner of Works, 21 April 1965, W 72/2/3A/2 Tauranga Section, NA Records Centre, Auckland
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