This memorial commemorating the Reverend John Whiteley Memorial was unveiled at Pukearuhe 2pm on 2 February 1923. The ceremony was led by the Reverend C.H. Laws (President of the Methodist conference) and attended by other church representatives and civic leaders.

IN MEMORY OF / JOHN WHITELEY / PIONEER METHODIST MISSIONARY / WHO WAS KILLED ON THIS SPOT / 13TH FEBRUARY, 1869

ERECTED BY HIS ADMIRERS / THROUGHOUT THE DOMINION

HE WHAKAMAHARATANGA / MO HONE WAITERE / APAKAKI MIHANERE / I PATUA KI TENEI WAHI / 13 O PEPUERE 1869

The memorial was removed in October 2006 as part of the Ngāti Tama Treaty settlement and replaced by a memorial stone on the road reserve nearby on 18 July 2008. The plaque from the memorial has been retained by the Methodist Church.

 

Documents:

Government Permission Granted (Taranaki Daily News 10 November 1922)

The Monument that Was (NZ Legacy Volume 22 #2, 2010)

Historic obelisk now sorry stone mess (Taranaki Daily News 10 October 2006)

Church defends demolition of slain-missionary memorial (Taranaki Daily News 11 October 2006)

 

Related Information

Website

Rev John Whiteley Memorial (1916)

Link

Murder at Pukearuhe (Rhonda Bartle)

Link

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