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Story: Canterbury places

Kaiapoi pā

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Kaiapoi pā

It is difficult to see the remains of Kaiapoi from the ground, but from the air the club-shaped outline of the earthworks is visible. Built around 1700, the was the largest and most important of Ngāi Tahu strongholds. It was considered impregnable, but Ngāti Toa invaders from the north breached its defences in 1832 and slaughtered the inhabitants.

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by Kevin Jones

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Canterbury places – Kaiapoi district, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10194/kaiapoi-pa (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 17 August 2015.