Ketemarae Road runs inland from Surf Highway 45 near Ohawe Road, south Taranaki, through the village of Normanby and connects with Mountain Road. It acts as a major transport route for south Taranaki farmers.
It refers to pā located near Normanby. It is the marae of the Nga Ruahine iwi. Historically it formed part of the Ketemarae village, which consisted of a 4 palisade pā, agricultural cultivations and several whare and in its heyday was a wealthy village, with its rich soil and bountiful cultivations. However the pā was destroyed by Chute in January 1866 during the South Taranaki War. Today there are remnants of the village and associated buildings, however many are in poor repair.
The pā site marks the entrance to the pre-European Whakaahurangi Track, which created a vital link between the tribes of north Taranaki and south Taranaki. The track runs from Normanby towards Eltham, north of Stratford and Inglewood and exits near Lepperton. The location of this track and other pre-European tracks were recorded by H.M. Skeet in 1907.
It was also used during the South Taranaki Wars. Following Chutes annihilation of Ketemarae, he used this track to march approximately 500 troops to New Plymouth. It is suggested that this march was an attempt by Chute to prove his military ability in difficult bush terrain. But considering his troops arrived there 10 arduous days later, fatigued and hungry, he failed in his aspirations.
This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.
Please do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
The information on this website is provided for general research and reference only. While we try to keep content accurate and current, we make no guarantees about its completeness or correctness. It should not be considered a replacement for a LIM or a Property Report. Some content is supplied by third parties. Puke Ariki has not verified this content and users should check its accuracy before relying on it.The inclusion of a building on the website does not imply heritage status. See SCHED1 in the NPDC District Plan for a list of buildings that have rules about what can happen to or around them (administered by NPDC). See the New Zealand Heritage List for a list of buildings that are celebrated for their heritage significance but are not subject to rules (administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). Should any corrections need to be made to the records or for more information please contact us.
