Galatea, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Galatea is a settlement in the Whakatane
district in the Bay of Plenty
region of the North Island
of New Zealand
.
The forested hills and mountains of the Ikawhenua Range and in particular Mount Tawhiuau stand guard on the eastern flank of the Galatea Plains or Basin, an area surrounding the village. To the west, and over the Rangitaiki River
stretch the 120000 acres (485.6 km²) of the Kaingaroa Forest
.
which descends from The Ureweras
and joins the Rangitaiki River
below the township of Murupara
. A few miles downstream and on the Western side of this trout filled river, Fort Galatea was built, where, from their lofty lookout, the constabularies living there were able to survey the tracks used by the many Māori who passed by on their way from or to the coast near Whakatane
.
To the North the Ikawhenuas lower and gradually close in to reach the right hand bank of the Rangitaiki River, leaving only enough room for an access road
from the valley over "Snake Hill" to the Rangitaiki Plains.
. As more canoes arrived, the newcomers either fitted in with the peaceful residents or overcame them with their warlike attitude. They fished when the season was right, then moved inland to trap pigeons, gather fernroots, and catch eels. At these times they reached Waiohau, Galatea, Murupara and Te Whaiti.
When visits of European trading ships became more common, the Galatea Maoris would travel down the river with goods to barter. Flax was their main commodity and axes, spades, hoes and later, guns and clothing were given in return. These people were Ngāti Manawa and their neighbours in the adjoining Urewera forested hills were the Ngāi Tūhoe, or "Children of the Mist", who often raided the Ngāti Manawa and on occasion drove them out of the area.
Pomare, chief of the Ngā Puhi from Northland was in the habit of travelling south to fight with the Bay of Plenty tribes and after attacking all the pa on the plains, chased the Tuhoe back into the hills of the Ureweras. He returned home with his canoes loaded with spoils and heads of the vanquished, only to return a year later The Ngāti Manawa were relieved to see the Ngā Puhi disappear up the Horomanga River
to meet up with Pomare's party who travelled up the Waimana River into the mountainous Urewera lands.
A principal chief of Tuhoe sent a messenger to Pomare asking for a meeting at which the threat of war between the tribes ceased and this led to continuing peace between Ngapuhi and Tuhoe.
The Pai Mārire
religion started in Taranaki and was introduced to the Bay of Plenty in 1865 by two of its prophets who met the Tuhoe, Ngati Manawa and Ngāti Whare
tribes with the object of explaining the "new religion". Some accepted and were initiated around the head of Captain P.W.J. Lloyd who had been killed in Taranaki. In Opotiki
, the Rev. Carl Völkner
, a much loved missionary was murdered by Hauhau
, and later a half-caste
interpreter, James Fulloon was murdered at Whakatane. Open hostility to "pākehā
" was shown over a wide area, and killings occurred on both sides.
This is where Fort Galatea came into use. HMS Galatea
at that time was visiting the country under the command of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
. and it is from this ship that the name was derived. Soldiers were stationed at the Fort in readiness to march into the forests of the Ureweras to fight the Hauhau, and with them a renegade by the name of Te Kooti
who had been captured after a battle in the Poverty Bay
area. He was transported as a prisoner to the Chatham Islands
when he soon became the leader of the prisoners. During a riot, they escaped, seized a schooner and reached the mainland where they continued the war against the pakeha. Te Kooti was ruthless and in complete control of the Hauhau, even though he was not one of them, but was a prophet and leader of what was to become the Ringatu
religion.
Whakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
district in the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
region of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The forested hills and mountains of the Ikawhenua Range and in particular Mount Tawhiuau stand guard on the eastern flank of the Galatea Plains or Basin, an area surrounding the village. To the west, and over the Rangitaiki River
Rangitaiki River
The Rangitaiki River is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand's North Island. It is 155 kilometres in length, and rises inland from northern Hawke Bay to the east of the Kaingaroa Forest....
stretch the 120000 acres (485.6 km²) of the Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa Forest is the largest forest in the North Island of New Zealand, and the largest plantation in the southern hemisphere.The forest covers 2900 km² in the inland East Cape and Bay of Plenty regions, and stretches south past the east coast of Lake Taupo...
.
Geography
The Southern boundary of the Galatea Plains is the Whirinaki RiverWhirinaki River
Whirinaki River is the name of two rivers in New Zealand's North Island.* Whirinaki River * Whirinaki River...
which descends from The Ureweras
Te Urewera
Te Urewera is an area of the central North Island of New Zealand. Located in rough, sparsely populated hill country to the northeast of Lake Taupo, it is the historical home of Tuhoe, a Māori iwi known for their controversial stance on Māori sovereignty...
and joins the Rangitaiki River
Rangitaiki River
The Rangitaiki River is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand's North Island. It is 155 kilometres in length, and rises inland from northern Hawke Bay to the east of the Kaingaroa Forest....
below the township of Murupara
Murupara
Murupara is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty region between the Kaingaroa Forest and Te Urewera National Park, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, along SH38. Murupara is the...
. A few miles downstream and on the Western side of this trout filled river, Fort Galatea was built, where, from their lofty lookout, the constabularies living there were able to survey the tracks used by the many Māori who passed by on their way from or to the coast near Whakatane
Whakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
.
To the North the Ikawhenuas lower and gradually close in to reach the right hand bank of the Rangitaiki River, leaving only enough room for an access road
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
from the valley over "Snake Hill" to the Rangitaiki Plains.
History
The coastal area of the Bay of Plenty has been occupied by various tribes of Māori arriving in frail canoes from the islands of PolynesiaPolynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
. As more canoes arrived, the newcomers either fitted in with the peaceful residents or overcame them with their warlike attitude. They fished when the season was right, then moved inland to trap pigeons, gather fernroots, and catch eels. At these times they reached Waiohau, Galatea, Murupara and Te Whaiti.
When visits of European trading ships became more common, the Galatea Maoris would travel down the river with goods to barter. Flax was their main commodity and axes, spades, hoes and later, guns and clothing were given in return. These people were Ngāti Manawa and their neighbours in the adjoining Urewera forested hills were the Ngāi Tūhoe, or "Children of the Mist", who often raided the Ngāti Manawa and on occasion drove them out of the area.
Pomare, chief of the Ngā Puhi from Northland was in the habit of travelling south to fight with the Bay of Plenty tribes and after attacking all the pa on the plains, chased the Tuhoe back into the hills of the Ureweras. He returned home with his canoes loaded with spoils and heads of the vanquished, only to return a year later The Ngāti Manawa were relieved to see the Ngā Puhi disappear up the Horomanga River
Horomanga River
The Horomanga River is a river of the northeastern North Island of New Zealand. The river flows north through Te Urewera National Park, reaching its confluence with the Rangitaiki River 12 kiloemtres north of Murupara-References:...
to meet up with Pomare's party who travelled up the Waimana River into the mountainous Urewera lands.
A principal chief of Tuhoe sent a messenger to Pomare asking for a meeting at which the threat of war between the tribes ceased and this led to continuing peace between Ngapuhi and Tuhoe.
The Pai Mārire
Pai Marire
The Pai Mārire movement was a syncretic Māori religion that flourished in New Zealand from about 1863 to 1874. Founded in Taranaki by the prophet Te Ua Haumene, it incorporated Biblical and Māori spiritual elements and promised its followers deliverance from Pākehā domination, providing a...
religion started in Taranaki and was introduced to the Bay of Plenty in 1865 by two of its prophets who met the Tuhoe, Ngati Manawa and Ngāti Whare
Ngati Whare
Ngāti Whare is a Māori iwi of New Zealand.Ngati Whare are part of a group of tribes participating in the "treelords" Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the New Zealand government involving Central North Island forestry land and cash ....
tribes with the object of explaining the "new religion". Some accepted and were initiated around the head of Captain P.W.J. Lloyd who had been killed in Taranaki. In Opotiki
Opotiki
Opotiki is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Opotiki District Council and comes under the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.-Population:* of the town: 4176 - Male 1,989, Female 2,187...
, the Rev. Carl Völkner
Carl Sylvius Völkner
Carl Sylvius Völkner was a German-born Protestant missionary in New Zealand.He was born in Kassel, Hesse, Germany, probably in 1819. Völkner was one of several missionaries sent to New Zealand by the North German Missionary Society. He arrived in New Zealand in August 1849. In 1852 he offered...
, a much loved missionary was murdered by Hauhau
Hauhau
Hauhau is a Māori term that was applied to a branch of the religious movement Pai Marire, founded by Te Ua Haumēne of the Taranaki tribe in New Zealand in the 1860s. The movement inculcated that Māori would regain land that they had lost to Europeans during the colonisation process of New...
, and later a half-caste
Half-caste
Half-caste is a term used to describe people of mixed race or ethnicity. Caste comes from the Latin castus, meaning pure, and the derivative Portuguese and Spanish casta, meaning race...
interpreter, James Fulloon was murdered at Whakatane. Open hostility to "pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
" was shown over a wide area, and killings occurred on both sides.
This is where Fort Galatea came into use. HMS Galatea
HMS Galatea (1859)
HMS Galatea was an Ariadne class 26-gun sixth rate wooden screw frigate launched in 1859 and broken up 1883. In 1866 she went on a world cruise, under the command of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh....
at that time was visiting the country under the command of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
. and it is from this ship that the name was derived. Soldiers were stationed at the Fort in readiness to march into the forests of the Ureweras to fight the Hauhau, and with them a renegade by the name of Te Kooti
Te Kooti
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was a Māori leader, the founder of the Ringatu religion and guerrilla.While fighting alongside government forces against the Hauhau in 1865, he was accused of spying. Exiled to the Chatham Islands without trial along with captured Hauhau, he experienced visions and...
who had been captured after a battle in the Poverty Bay
Poverty Bay
Poverty Bay is the largest of several small bays on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island to the north of Hawkes Bay. It stretches for 10 kilometres from Young Nick's Head in the southwest to Tuaheni Point in the northeast. The city of Gisborne is located on the northern shore of the bay...
area. He was transported as a prisoner to the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
when he soon became the leader of the prisoners. During a riot, they escaped, seized a schooner and reached the mainland where they continued the war against the pakeha. Te Kooti was ruthless and in complete control of the Hauhau, even though he was not one of them, but was a prophet and leader of what was to become the Ringatu
Ringatu
The Ringatū church was founded in 1868 by Te Kooti Rikirangi. The symbol for the movement is an upraised hand, or "Ringa Tū" in Māori.Te Kooti was one of a number of Māori detained at the Chatham Islands without trial in relation to the East Coast disturbances of the 1860s...
religion.