Mount Maunganui

Mauao (Mount Maunganui), famous for its great weather and popular surf and swimming beaches, is a holiday destination for overseas visitors and locals alike. Tauranga and "The Mount" offers relaxation, adventure and culture. There are activities for everyone.

The name Tauranga comes from Maori, it roughly translates to "a sheltered anchorage". Tauranga is the largest city in New Zealand with a Maori name instead of a European name.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a port city located in the western Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of 116,000 from the June 2008 estimate. Tauranga is the largest city and urban area in the Bay of Plenty. Nationwide, Tauranga is currently New Zealand's fifth largest urban area. It is one of New Zealand's fastest growing regions, with a 14 percent increase in population between the 2001 census and the 2006 census.

view from Mauao
Views from Mauao

European Timeline


1769 Captain James Cook sails across the Bay of Plenty in the Endeavour.

1820 Rev.Samuel Marsden sees the Tauranga Harbour from the top of Mount Hikurangi near Waihi

1834 Site for Mission Station at Te Papa (Tauranga) chosen by A.N.Brown and William Williams

1835 Mission Station at Te Papa opened by William Wade Several flax traders operating in the area: Tapsell, Dillon, Farrow.

1836 Continued fighting amongst Maori tribes. Mission Station evacuated.

1837 Rev J.A.Wilson to Te Papa Mission Station

1838 Rev A.N.Brown and family arrive at Te Papa Mission Station.
Purchase of first block of land by Brown for CMS

1839 Second land purchase (3000 acres).

1840 John Lees Faulkner, trader, settles at Otumoetai Treaty signed at Maungatapu Pa by Nuka, but Tupaea (Otumoetai) refuses to sign Roman Catholic Mission established at Otumoetai.

1841 Ernst Dieffenbach visits Te Papa.

1842 Trouble over a stolen boat. Troops on Mount Drury (Hopukiore) for 4 months.

1845 Death of Marsh Brown, son of Rev. A.N.Brown.
Peace treaty between Te Arawa and Ngaiterangi. Peace stones set up at Maketu and Otumoetai.

1852 HMS Pandora’s survey of Tauranga Harbour.

1855 Death of Charlotte Brown, wife of A.N.Brown, in Auckland.

1857 First steamship enters Tauranga harbour. Name unknown.

1859 Visit of Dr Ferdinand von Hochstetter, geologist. Celia Brown marries Rev John Kinder.

1860 Henry Tacy Clarke appointed Resident Magistrate at Tauranga. Archdeacon Brown marries Christina Johnston.

1864 Military occupation of Tauranga Battle of Gate Pa.
Battle of Te Ranga.
Gov. George Grey takes part in formal peacemaking with Maori.
Land west of Waimapu River confiscated.

1865 Rev C. Volkner murdered at Opotiki.V 1866 Military settlers taking up farm and town lots.

1867 Tauranga District Lands Act legalises the confiscation.

1868 School opened in Durham Redoubt.

1869 Fear of attack by Te Kooti’s followers.
Opepe massacre – 9 Tauranga men killed.

1870 Tauranga Highways District and Tauranga North Highways District Boards established.
Telegraphic communication with Wellington established.

1871 Town Wharf built