Otatara Pa Historic Reserve

Ōtātara Pā Historic Reserve (c. 1400-1820) Major hill pā complex In the Taradale Hills on the outskirts of modern ‘Art Deco’ Napier lie the remains of a much earlier settlement. Twentieth-century quarrying largely destroyed one of the two pā now covered by the name ‘Ōtātara’ but even so, its 33 ha form one of the most impressive archaeological sites in New Zealand and have been compared to One Tree Hill in Auckland. It is certainly the largest and oldest in Hawke’s Bay and once may have covered almost 50 ha. The small ditch and bank defences point to its antiquity and it is thought that Ōtātara may have been settled between 1400 and 1500. As you will appreciate on a clear day, Ōtātara commanded good views of rich kumara gardens, fishing, fowling and flax and raupō resources in the swamps and the then-navigable Tūtaekurī River. Stories about the place often conflict because the iwi associated with it later became factionalised, but its significance for commemorating the conquest of Heretaunga by Ngāti Kahungunu from Poverty Bay about 1550 under Taraia is clear. The name Ōtātara originally belonged to the lower pā. Now mostly quarried away, this pā occupied an isolated ridge cut on one side by the Tūtaekurī River to form a natural defensive cliff. What you see now is the larger and higher of the two, Hikurangi (‘the cloud piercer’), about 500 m further up the ridge. On the way up you can see house terraces and regularly spaced deep pits that were once roofed over for kumara storage. Hikurangi has no ditch and bank defences but there is evidence of defensive scarping. Permanent occupation probably ceased about 1820 after northern raiders struck elsewhere in the district during the Musket Wars. Donald McLean bought the Ahuriri Block for the Crown in 1851. The Dolbel family owned Ōtātara and much of the surrounding land for more than a century. It has been an historic reserve since 1972 and remains important to the local Māori who ‘live in the shadow of Ōtātara’. Source: nzhistory.govt.nz

Wonderful views and a good amount of walk. Great sunset pics!!

I really like doing this walk. It's usually very quiet and the track is well maintained. Great views over the plain and lots of informative signs about the history of the pā site. I recommend this for visitors to Hawke's Bay. Also please don't bring your dogs as sheep graze along the walkway.

It's a nice easy walk to see great views of Hastings

It was great to walk and learn about the maori settlements in Hawke's Bay

amazing view from the top. imagine the warriors of the day having a very strategic view of the land

Great walk, the maps are a little confusing but the track is a loop walk that takes around an hour. Lovely views!

Amazing walk. What view, simply stunning. Good information boards around just enough to be interesting but so mucus it’s boring. Definitely recommend!