A number of improvements are to be undertaken at Pohaturoa Reserve as the first stage of a refresh for Whakatāne’s heritage trail.

Mayor Tony Bonne says the work will be undertaken with urgency, so that the key improvements are in place in time for the 175th anniversary of Ngāti Awa’s signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on 16 June.

“Pohaturoa is arguably one of the most significant cultural sites on the heritage trail, both in terms of its immense historic importance for Ngāti Awa and because the Treaty was signed there in 1840,” he explains. “The Council and iwi are jointly working to upgrade the trail, with the intention of creating a world class hikoi, cultural tourism experience for visitors, so the Treaty commemoration gives us a great focus to get that process underway.”

The improvements at the reserve will include new interpretation signage, a lighting upgrade, installation of a boardwalk and a protective structure to allow safe passage through the archway on the southern side of the rock, repair work on the existing carved seat and a general ‘tidy-up’. The work is expected to cost approximately $65,000, with the funding required coming from Parks and Reserves development contributions.

Pohaturoa and the adjacent pavilion are official memorials to those from the area who fell or served in World War 1. The pavilion has recently been repainted, and commemorative plaques are to be installed in and on the building by Ngāti Awa, whose forebears raised the funds required to construct the memorial in the early 20th century. Other recent improvements in the area include the reinstallation of a footpath around the northern side of the rock and the replanting of the roadside gardens to the west.

Part of the upgrade of the Pohaturoa Reserve will see a boardwalk and a structure with a woven stainless steel ‘harakeke’ mesh installed in the archway on the southern side of the rock, making it safe for pedestrian use.