At Otaka/Pioneer Park off Breakwater Road, New Plymouth is a lonely grave.
An urupa adjacent to Pioneer Park is the Final Resting Place of Poharama Te Whiti, paramount chief of Ngamotu from the Ngati Te Whiti hapu whose Otaka pa was in this area prior to the arrival of the European settlers.
IN HONOURED MEMORY
OF
POHARAMA TE WHITI
CHIEF OF NGAMOTU
A LOYAL FRIEND
TO THE PIONEERS
DIED 1878
But his death actually occurred in 1875, as recorded in the local newspaper of the time...
Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2351, 20 October 1875, Page 2
DEATH OF POHARAMA -- Another old and well known chief named Poharama died on Monday [18th], at Muturoa [sic.]. Several days before he died he told his relatives that he knew he should not live long, and requested that they would take him from Ratapihipihi to his old home at Muturoa, which was accordingly done. The old chief was known as a staunch and faithful friend of the Europeans during the troubled times. Latterly he had become quite an infatuated believer in Te Whiti. [Retrieved 04/05/2016]
 |
Poharama Te Whiti was a chief of Ngamotu from the Ngati Te Whiti hapu. He was involved in the defence of Otaka pa, also known as Nga Motu pa, against Waikato in 1832. After the arrival of the settlers in the early 1840s, he seemed to develop a good relationship with them, but was not afraid to voice a strong opinion.
In 1847 Poharama led resistance to the sale of any more land when negotiations between Te Atiawa and Governor Grey for the sale of land, outside the controversial Fitzroy block, broke down. This annoyed Grey, who strongly criticised Poharama for his refusal to give support. Later, local Maori caused great anxiety among the Pakeha settlers when they brought their firearms into Kawau pa, which was situated well inside the settlement area of the New Plymouth township. It was Poharama who liaised between Maori and the sergeant of the Armed Police to ensure there was no trouble. |
Puke Ariki museum houses several taonga that were once associated with Poharama. Among these is a small carved figurine made from whalebone and a huru-huru kuri korowai (dogskin cloak).
| In the foyer entrance of the New Plymouth District Council Civic Centre there is a representation of Poharama on the top of a carved panel which sits over a meeting room door. |
 |
Poharama Place, located in Marfell beneath Whakawhitiwhiti Pa is a lasting memory to this esteemed chief. GC57CRT Whakawhitiwhiti Pa is my geocache marking that historical location. [Retrieved 03/05/2016; Poharama Place (TDN 24/05/2014)]
Avoid the parapara (bird catching) tree at the south-eastern foot of Poharama's grave! It is a New Zealand native related to the Bougainvillea. During Summer the seedpods are encased in a sticky coating which glue themselves to the feathers of small feeding birds. The parapara remains extremely sticky right through to Spring and like a small bird you will rue the moment you came in contact with its seed pods.