Tairua’s new heritage trail
The Coromandel Peninsula township of Tairua had a double celebration on Queen’s birthday weekend. On Saturday June 2nd its new heritage trail opened to the public. Place-making is about celebrating the character and memory of the environment. Now visitors to Tairua are connecting with its history via a walking track.
According to Pat King, spokesperson for the Heritage trail, Tairua’s local history group conceived the idea of building the trail nearly 14 months ago. The group identified the potential that existed, within walking distance of the Tairua Information Centre, for a track that wandered through the town’s history and unique geology.
Equipped with a draft plan the group secured funds from local Trusts, ratepayer associations and community boards. Thames-Coromandel District Council, the local authority, also assisted in the process. Contractors dug twenty holes for plinths made from railway sleepers and then did the final concreting.
Concreting the railway sleepers on the trail The plinths are situated at historic points of interest along the trail. Each plinth bears a plaque with a story and a photo. While grants covered the costs of the planning and delivery of the project these plinths have been paid for from sponsorships, and sold to individuals and families who have a connection with the different sites.
The plaques have been paid for with individual sponsorships Pat King works at the Tairua Information Centre. There are no prizes for guessing what she suggests to visitors who come looking for an activity. “People love the trail,” says Pat. The Peninsula is an area steeped in history. Captain Cook observed the transit of Mercury at nearby Mercury Bay in 1769. The trail itself includes the site where the oldest human artifact in New Zealand was found.
We won't be divulging any more details- that is a good reason for taking the walk.
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