Alexandra West Redoubt at Pirongia, in the Waikato
Pirongia - A small town in the Waikato 13km NW of Te Awamutu on Hwy 39, on the historically important waterway of the Punui River. Site of three historic European redoubts from the Waikato war: the extant Western and the twin Alexandra East Redoubts.
Also note the Pirongia Heritage Visitor Centre in town - contact for opening hours.
What little remains of the northern Alexandra East redoubt can be seen at the vacant lots of 6 & & Aubin Close. I understand that the southern site has been obliterated.
Alexandra West redoubt access: at the south end of Franklin Street (the main street) turn into Bellot St, continue for 100 meters and park by the signboard. Alexandra redoubt is a short walk up on the hill through the gate, on public land. This is the best preserved of the surviving Waikato redoubts.
Video of my visit soon to be edited and uploaded to youtube..
European History:
Although this area was not the scene of any of the major engagements of the Waikato War (1864-1864), however 28 Maori were killed on 11 February 1864 when a combined force of Forest Rangers and Auckland Rifle Volunteers engaged in a gunfight with a group of Maori along the banks of the Mangapiko Stream, 3 km north of the present settlement.
Established in June 1864 as a garrison settlement for the 2nd regiment of Waikato Militia, comprising the twin Alexandra East Redoubts, Alexandra/Pirongia was in an area of great tension - being situated on the Aukaki (Confiscation) Line it was the hub of defence along this boundary of the Maori-occupied King Country.
The final battle of the Waikato War had taken place at Orakau two months before - on 2 April - however tensions in the Waikato ran high for almost 20 years. This fortification formed part of a chain of similar structures built between Pirongia and Cambridge established to protect the confiscated Maori land north of the Aukati Line.
In turn, Alexandra West redoubt was built in 1872 (eight years after the end of the Waikato War). Local European settlers had become concerned that they were inadequately protected after the Waikato Militia was abolished in 1867/8. The Government therefore constructed this Armed Constabulary redoubt as protection against possible incursions by armed Maori factions from the adjacent King Country: less than two kilometers from the town, and clearly visible from the redoubt, was Whatiwhatihoe - the main settlement of the King Movement, under King Tawhiao, over the Punui River and behind the Autaki Line.
Despite the proximity of many armed Maori and simmering tensions, concerns of attack proved false. Indeed, relationships between the settlers and King Tawhiao and his followers were “remarkably amicable” - with a brisk and profitable trade both ways over the Aukati Line, which included Maori agricultural produce being shipped to Auckland from European storehouses in the town.
A formal peace agreement was signed by the NZ Government and the King Movement under the second Maori King (Tawhiao) in 1881. As a token of this peace, and escorted by 600 warriors, Tawhiao left his headquarters at Hikurangi on the southern side of nearby Pirongia Mountain and symbolically exchanged arms with Major William Gilbert Mair (government agent and Resident Magistrate) outside the Alexandra Hotel.
This act is considered to signify the end of the New Zealand Wars.
Following this, in May 1886, the Armed Constabulary abandoned the redoubt and the town flourished until bypassed by the main trunk railway line in 1880.
Musket Wars: Just north of town on the western side of the road is a bronze plaque marking the site of the earlier Matakitaki pa - site of a bitter inter-tribal battle in 1822 when a strong force of Ngaphui from Kerikeri under Hongi Hika armed with muskets overwhelmed the Waikato Maori here. With stone and wood being no match for gunpowder and lead, over 2,000 Waikato were slaughtered, including women and children, many of them in a panicked stampede to escape the musket fir.
“Pirongia” = the original Maori name referencing nearby Pirongia Mountain - a volcanic complex and an important feature of Maori mythology, now a State Forest Park.
The name is understood to be a contraction of Pirongia-te-Aroaro-o-Kahu meaning “the scented presence of Kahurere”: Kahurere/Kahupeka was revived from tiredness after ascending Pirongia by anointing her body with the scented leaves of the raukawa tree (Wises New Zealand Guide).
In Maori folklore Mount Pirongia is associated with the patupairehe (the legendary fairy people).
The European settlement was named “Alexandra” after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who married Edward the Prince of Wales in March 1863. She was greatly loved and respected both for her beauty and her benevolence and later became Queen Alexandra when Edward succeeded Queen Victoria and was crowned Edward Vll in1902 (Reed - Place Names of New Zealand). “Alexandra” became “Pirongia” again in 1896.
Placenames:
The Punui River is a tributary of the Waipa River, which in turn joins the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia. This combined extensive waterway was an important highway for Maori as it was navigable by canoe from the mouth of the Waikato to Te Awamutu (literally: “The End of the River”).
“Ngaruawahia”: literally - “ngarua”: some food pits, “wahia”: broken open. One version is that, true to traditional Maori hospitality, the local kumera storage pits were opened when a large group of visitors arrived unexpectedly (Reed).
“Punui”: a type of fern.
“Waipa”: “wai”: water, “pa”: fortified village or villages - “there were many pa in the fertile area watered by the Waipa River” (Reed).
“Waikato”: literally - “wai”: water, “kato”: to flow. “The river was often referred to as ‘Waikato-taniwha-rau’: literally - “..flowing river of a hundred water-monsters. In this case ‘taniwha’ was a symbolic term for a chief, the expression being one of admiration for a river where there were so many chiefs”. (Reed).
Further specific reading:
“The Waikato War of 1863-64 - a guide to the main events and sights” - Neville Ritchie
“The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000” - Vincent O’Malley
“Waipa Heritage Trail” - a booklet by Waipa District Council
Also note the Pirongia Heritage Visitor Centre in town - contact for opening hours.
What little remains of the northern Alexandra East redoubt can be seen at the vacant lots of 6 & & Aubin Close. I understand that the southern site has been obliterated.
Alexandra West redoubt access: at the south end of Franklin Street (the main street) turn into Bellot St, continue for 100 meters and park by the signboard. Alexandra redoubt is a short walk up on the hill through the gate, on public land. This is the best preserved of the surviving Waikato redoubts.
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| Inside the redoubt |
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| The outer ditch |
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| The outer ditch |
European History:
Although this area was not the scene of any of the major engagements of the Waikato War (1864-1864), however 28 Maori were killed on 11 February 1864 when a combined force of Forest Rangers and Auckland Rifle Volunteers engaged in a gunfight with a group of Maori along the banks of the Mangapiko Stream, 3 km north of the present settlement.
Established in June 1864 as a garrison settlement for the 2nd regiment of Waikato Militia, comprising the twin Alexandra East Redoubts, Alexandra/Pirongia was in an area of great tension - being situated on the Aukaki (Confiscation) Line it was the hub of defence along this boundary of the Maori-occupied King Country.
The final battle of the Waikato War had taken place at Orakau two months before - on 2 April - however tensions in the Waikato ran high for almost 20 years. This fortification formed part of a chain of similar structures built between Pirongia and Cambridge established to protect the confiscated Maori land north of the Aukati Line.
In turn, Alexandra West redoubt was built in 1872 (eight years after the end of the Waikato War). Local European settlers had become concerned that they were inadequately protected after the Waikato Militia was abolished in 1867/8. The Government therefore constructed this Armed Constabulary redoubt as protection against possible incursions by armed Maori factions from the adjacent King Country: less than two kilometers from the town, and clearly visible from the redoubt, was Whatiwhatihoe - the main settlement of the King Movement, under King Tawhiao, over the Punui River and behind the Autaki Line.
Despite the proximity of many armed Maori and simmering tensions, concerns of attack proved false. Indeed, relationships between the settlers and King Tawhiao and his followers were “remarkably amicable” - with a brisk and profitable trade both ways over the Aukati Line, which included Maori agricultural produce being shipped to Auckland from European storehouses in the town.
A formal peace agreement was signed by the NZ Government and the King Movement under the second Maori King (Tawhiao) in 1881. As a token of this peace, and escorted by 600 warriors, Tawhiao left his headquarters at Hikurangi on the southern side of nearby Pirongia Mountain and symbolically exchanged arms with Major William Gilbert Mair (government agent and Resident Magistrate) outside the Alexandra Hotel.
This act is considered to signify the end of the New Zealand Wars.
Following this, in May 1886, the Armed Constabulary abandoned the redoubt and the town flourished until bypassed by the main trunk railway line in 1880.
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| King Tawhiao |
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| The Alexandra Hotel today |
“Pirongia” = the original Maori name referencing nearby Pirongia Mountain - a volcanic complex and an important feature of Maori mythology, now a State Forest Park.
 |
| Mt Pirongia |
In Maori folklore Mount Pirongia is associated with the patupairehe (the legendary fairy people).
The European settlement was named “Alexandra” after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who married Edward the Prince of Wales in March 1863. She was greatly loved and respected both for her beauty and her benevolence and later became Queen Alexandra when Edward succeeded Queen Victoria and was crowned Edward Vll in1902 (Reed - Place Names of New Zealand). “Alexandra” became “Pirongia” again in 1896.
 |
| Princess Alexandra |
Placenames:
The Punui River is a tributary of the Waipa River, which in turn joins the Waikato River at Ngaruawahia. This combined extensive waterway was an important highway for Maori as it was navigable by canoe from the mouth of the Waikato to Te Awamutu (literally: “The End of the River”).
“Ngaruawahia”: literally - “ngarua”: some food pits, “wahia”: broken open. One version is that, true to traditional Maori hospitality, the local kumera storage pits were opened when a large group of visitors arrived unexpectedly (Reed).
“Punui”: a type of fern.
“Waipa”: “wai”: water, “pa”: fortified village or villages - “there were many pa in the fertile area watered by the Waipa River” (Reed).
“Waikato”: literally - “wai”: water, “kato”: to flow. “The river was often referred to as ‘Waikato-taniwha-rau’: literally - “..flowing river of a hundred water-monsters. In this case ‘taniwha’ was a symbolic term for a chief, the expression being one of admiration for a river where there were so many chiefs”. (Reed).
Further specific reading:
“The Waikato War of 1863-64 - a guide to the main events and sights” - Neville Ritchie
“The Great War for New Zealand: Waikato 1800-2000” - Vincent O’Malley
“Waipa Heritage Trail” - a booklet by Waipa District Council
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