Public Works

The Crown has acquired Te Atiawa land under Public Works legislation. Land taken includes wahi tapu of particular significance to Te Atiawa. In 1964 the Crown acquired 479 acres of Te Atiawa land for New Plymouth Airport, which included a significant pa site and at least three urupa of the Puketapu hapu of Te Atiawa. This land was part of the Puketapu reserve which had been granted in Trust for the Puketapu Tribe in 1880 and deemed “absolutely inalienable”, but which was opened to alienation by the passage of subsequent Acts.