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Historic Places
It is important that we recount our historical places of importance, as it is an integral part of connecting to our past. In māoridom it is called Tūrangawaewae.
Tūrangawaewae is one of the most well-known and powerful Māori concepts. Literally, tūranga (standing place), waewae (feet), it is often translated as ‘a place to stand’. Tūrangawaewae are places where we feel especially empowered and connected. They are our foundation, our place in the world, our home.
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Any corrections, additional information, pictures or stories relevant to this chapter can be submitted via the contacts in the footer section of this page. Accreditation is given, where applicable. Many thanks to all those who have contributed.
Merv Priestley email
Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England
Buckden, Huntingdonshire, England
Buckden (originally Bugden) in Cambridgeshire (historically in Huntingdonshire), is a village around 10 km south of Huntingdon and 80 km north of London.
If we are to adopt an English place of origin, then the village of Buckden, would be a good choice, due to the fact that at least 3 direct generations of our ancestors resided there and 2 of those generations are buried there. Read more...
Waihau Bay Beach, Puatai, New Zealand
Waihau Bay Beach, Puatai, New Zealand
Waihau Bay Beach, is approximately 42km from Gisborne, 6km down Waihau Road from the State Highway35 turn-off
Note - Puatai was also known or written as Potae, Puatae or Poatai over the years.
Upon their marriage in 1869, Charles Priestley and Taraipine Tatua, made their home on a property opposite Waihau Bay Beach in Poatai/Puatai. This was to be the very first Priestley family homestead in New Zealand. Read more...
Tolaga Bay, East Coast, New Zealand
Tolaga Bay, East Coast, New Zealand
Tolaga Bay is both a bay and small town on the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island located
45 kilometres northeast of Gisborne
We are yet to discover much of our family history in Tolaga Bay, but what we do know is that our common blood connection here comes from the marriage between our tipuna Hori Patihana and Ani Patene in the early 1800's which produced a family including daughter Tairaipine in 1841. Read more...
Whangara, East Coast, New Zealand
Whangara, East Coast, New Zealand
Whangara is a small community located between Gisborne and Tolaga Bay, and 2 km down Pa Road off State Highway 35
Our connection with Whangara started with the arrival of our legendary tipuna Paikea.
The Priestley name first appeared here in the 1860's when our English ancestor Charles Priestley settled in the area. He met and married a local woman Taraipine Tatua and had 8 children. Read more...
Manutuke, Gisborne, New Zealand
Manutuke, Gisborne, New Zealand
Manutuke is a settlement in the Gisborne Region. It is located to the west of the city of Gisborne on State Highway 2, close to the mouth of the Waipaoa River
Although our connection to Manutuke on the East Coast started with the arrival of the Horouta and Takitumu waka, our real family story here is about the line of strong women who we owe much of our maori blood. Read more...
47 Cochrane Street, Gisborne, New Zealand
47 Cochrane Street, Gisborne, New Zealand
The Cochrane Street homestead isn't our typical family historic place in the sense that it doesn't affiliate us to any particular tribe or area. It is however a special historic place in the sense that it holds a very special place in our hearts as it was our family home for almost 50 years. Read more...
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