Story: Police

Armed Constabulary posts: Ōpepe, 1870s (1st of 2)

Armed Constabulary posts: Ōpepe, 1870s

An advance party of the Māori prophet and military leader Te Kooti killed a number of volunteer cavalry at Ōpepe, on the Napier–Taupō road, in 1869. Soon afterwards a chain of fortified police posts, linked by telegraph, was built between Napier and Lake Taupō, including at Ōpepe itself. This photo shows the Armed Constabulary post there in the early 1870s. At first troops did not enjoy being stationed at this dangerous and isolated location, but by the late 1870s they were guiding parties of tourists around the area. The Ōpepe post remained open until 1885.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-003116-F
Photograph by Samuel Carnell

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Richard S. Hill, 'Police - Provinces, war and gold, 1850s to 1870s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/33854/armed-constabulary-posts-opepe-1870s (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Richard S. Hill, published 20 Jun 2012