TONGARIRO DOMAIN - Taupo District Council

Tongariro Domain Reserve Management Plan December 2005
4.4 HISTORY, CULTURE AND HERITAGE
The history of the Tongariro Domain is very interesting and worthy of note. It is
however, unfortunate that little of early Maori history of the area has been
documented. This creates a large gap in our knowledge as to who occupied the area
and to its early land use history. It is therefore very difficult to know what historic
sites of Maori origin may be on the reserve and be of value to be protected and
interpreted to the public. Having said this, the reserve has already been heavily
modified.
The main known historic points of interest on the reserve are associated with the
Armed Constabulary’s use of the area, particularly in conjunction with the Redoubt.
The Redoubt itself is noted as an historic site with the land on which it stands being
reserved as Historic Reserve under the control of the Historic Places Trust. Also,
within the Historic Reserve is the former Courthouse building. This was constructed in
1881 as a public hall and theatre, then converted into a courthouse in 1887. It was
relocated to land between the Tapuaeharuru Redoubt and Story Place in 1966 and is
now used as a Kohangareo.
Other features on the reserve are worthy of note and interpretation to the public. The
original site of Taupo’s first school and first Courthouse and various features and
activities associated with the Redoubt, should be interpreted for reserve’s users
information and education. If further investigation reveals any historic sites of Maori
or European origin on the reserve then these should also be acknowledged
appropriately.
4.5 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER
The Tongariro Domain is a dominant feature in the landscape of Taupo Town Centre.
It is seen by all those who travel through Taupo along State Highway 1 and by Taupo
residents whenever they are in and around the town centre. The reserve contains
large areas of grassed open space and peripheral shrubs and trees that both provides
a highly significant landscape feature in its own right but which also helps to enhance
the setting of Taupo Town Centre, the Waikato River, Taupo Boat Harbour, Lake
Taupo and the State Highway.
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