Patea. South Taranaki. New Zealand.
S 39° 45.385 E 174° 29.130
60H E 284589 N 5596253
A pictorial sign representing the Taranaki coastal town of Patea, the home of the outstanding Patea Maori Club, whose 80s hit Poi-E is still one of the country’s favourite songs.
Waymark Code: WM9J8D
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 08/25/2010
Views: 6
Located on the banks of the Patea River, south of Hawera, Patea is rich with Maori and European history. Patea was used as a colonial base during the land wars in the 1860s and was the chief town of South Taranaki by the 1880s.
According to Maori tradition, the colonists from Hawaiki, led by Turi, left their craft at Aotea Harbour, travelled overland along the coast and established themselves about the mouth of the Patea River.
In the 1920s Patea was the largest cheese exporting port in the world, it had a large port. The Freezing Works was the main employer until it closed in 1982. This was also when Patea became known as the home of singer Dalvanius Prime and the Patea Maori Club. Their single, "Poi E", indicated renewed impetus in contemporary Maori popular music. It is again becoming very popular today and Patea is well known for its local Maori Clubs outstanding performances.
Today, the South Taranaki Museum has colourful displays of the region's past.
Besides the history, there are good spots for swimming, fishing and surfing nearby.
The town sign depicts the local scenery of Patea, with Maori koru symbols in the lower corners, the rivermouth, the cliffs of the Taranaki coast, the flax bushes used by local Maori for weaving baskets, mats etc, and the pohutukawa tree in bloom which is a familiar sight in coastal Patea at christmas time.
The Maori koru was used on the prows of the early Polynesian canoes that sailed the Pacific with its many islands, The Koru design symbolizes growth, strength, peace, new life and new beginnings.
Location: The sign is erected on the Green beside the main highway entrance to Patea. This is close to the old Freezing Works site which was so important to the town.
Plaque: no
Construction Material: Wood
Artist: Unknown.
Web Address: [Web Link]
Sign Date: Not listed
Occasion Commemorated: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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