Oranga Street

Oranga Street runs south from Ōmatā Road; part of a subdivision developed by Pepper Construction Limited in the early 1960s. It is named after a nearby pā site. 

On an early survey map drawn by Frederic Carrington, the pā is labelled Oronga. It also appears as Oronga on a card index compiled by the Taranaki Museum in the 1960s. However in letters to the New Plymouth City Council in 1962 from Pepper Construction, the spelling has changed to Oranga. We cannot locate any reason for the change and this is perhaps another example of the variations that can result from transliterating an oral language. 

The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names translates Oranga as "a place of rising ground or fishing ground" - interestingly, there is no entry for Oronga. Oranga is also a small suburb near Onehunga in Auckland. 

Little is known about Ora(o)nga pā, and the site, thought to be to the north-east of Whakawhitiwhiti pā, was levelled some years ago.  

It is assumed to share a similar history to that of the larger and better known Whakawhitiwhiti pā. In the early 18^thcentury, an area south of the Waiongona River, within the traditional boundary of Te Ātiawa, was occupied by Taranaki iwi. It is thought a number of defensive positions, including these two pā, were built by Taranaki in anticipation of the return to the area of Te Ātiawa. By about 1770 it appears Taranaki was prepared to abandon their hold on the area and return peaceably to their own territory. 

Unfortunately, like many other pā sites in Taranaki, Ora(o)nga did not escape advancing urbanisation. In any event this little known pā lives on as a street name in the west of New Plymouth.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.