Māhoetahi Cross (c1910/1941)

The cross memorial at Māhoetahi, alongside State Highway 3, was originally erected in wood sometime between 1909 and 1911. The site had earlier been fenced by the Scenery Preservation Society. This concrete replacement was made in 1941.

The 1909 wooden cross-piece is in Puke Ariki collection.  

HE WHAKAMAHAMATANGA-I-NGA-RANGITIRA-TOA-O-WAIKATO

A WETINI TAIPORUTU-MA-I-HINGA-KI-KONEI-TATA

I-TE PAREKURA-I-TURIA-I-TE-6-NOWEMA-1860 

Erected / By / The NZ Govt

[In remembrance of the brave chiefs of Waikato, of Wetini Taiporutu and his comrades, who fell close to this spot in the battle fought on 6^th November 1860.]

On 6 November 1958 a New Zealand Historic Places Trust plaque at the base of the hill was unveiled by Ormond Wilson, the Chairman of the Trust. The bronze plaque is now missing from the concrete base but read:

Battle of Mahoetahi / 6th November 1860 / Maori who fell are buried on this hill

A similar plaque marking the battle at Waireka was unveiled the same day. 

Documents and plans:

Battlefield At Māhoetahi (Plan), The New Zealand Wars and the pioneering period (Vol. I), James Cowan (page 195)

Taranaki DP2631 Sheet 1 Block III Paritutu SD (1904), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki SO7887 Sheet 1 Block III Paritutu SD (1904), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP9284 Sheet 1 Subdn of Part Section 59B (1963), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP15006 Sheet 1 Māhoetahi Reserve (1984), ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)