Omata Stockade Historic Reserve

alex passmore

On a warm summer day in the 21st century it is difficult to imagine the atmosphere and conditions that led to the building of a military fort in this stunning location. The snow capped peak of Mt. Taranaki (Egmont) rising as the eastern backdrop, ringed by pastoral farmland all giving way to the sundering Tasman Sea in the west! However, it was probably the richness of this environment that drew in the settlers, who came mainly from rural Devon in England, in search of greener pastures. This influx of foreigners led inevitably to friction with local Maori tribes, who saw their land being taken from them, sometimes by devious means. Constructed in 1859 as one of several forts built to defend the New Plymouth colony, the Omata Stockade saw early action in the Maori Wars. Following a murderous attack on Omata farmers and children on 27th March 1860, settler women and children sought refuge in the Stockade. It was this incident that ignited The First Taranaki War. Conditions inside Omata Stockade deteriorated rapidly, necessitating the evacuation of women and children to New Plymouth. The plight of the women and children grew as their numbers increased to over a thousand. A survival fund was established and sanctuary was offered by the people of Nelson on the South Island. The women and children became known as "The Taranaki Refugees", many of whom made their permanent home in Nelson.

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