Story of the Site

The southeastern corner of the site has been identified as a Pā Site, a historical Māori site that was fortified and occupied in the 1860s. The name Two Trees was chosen to give respect to our creator, the whenua (land) and the ongoing friendship with the hāpu of Ngāti Rauhoto and Ngāti Te Urunga.

The site is historically significant as a strategic point where Chief Poihipi of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi, built his pā (fort). Great care has been taken to ensure the pā site is duly recognized and the history of the land and the people honored. In all, it took 10 years before the original vision was realized and expressed through what is now known as Two Trees.