Ripapa Island
Encyclopedia
Ripapa Island, just off the shore of Lyttelton Harbour
(Whakaraupo) has played many roles in the history of New Zealand
. The island initially played a key role in an internal struggle for the south island Ngāi Tahu
tribe in the early 19th Century. In the late 19th century the island was used as a quarantine station for ships arriving from Britain, though 1880 saw the use of the quarantine buildings as a prison, notably for members of the Parihaka
Māori settlement in Taranaki during its passive resistance campaign against the surveying and selling of its land by the government. The quarantine buildings were dismantled when the Island was incorporated into the coastal defence scheme.
(a fortification built by the Māori) and in the early 19th Century, Chief Taununu of the Ngāi Tahu tribe built such a pā on the island. In the 1820s Chief Taununu faced a fierce fight with another Ngāi Tahu group, in what was to be known as the Kai Huanga feud. Kai Huanga, meaning "eat relatives", refers to the cannibalistic nature of the feud and that those they fought and ate were close relatives, even getting to a point where cousin would eat cousin.
The Ngāi Tahu tribe continued to occupy the island until around 1832. Prior to this, Chief Te Whakarukeruke who had been occupying Ripapa Island, left to help defend Kaiapoi
from Te Rauparaha
. After Kaiapoi fell, Te Rauparaha overran a number of pās on and around Banks Peninsula
, including the pā on Ripapa Island. The island was never again occupied by the Māori.
to protect Lyttelton Harbour, and as part of the nationwide coastal defences. The walled fort that had been built in 1886 had been re-militarised as a result of a perceived Russian scare and is the most complete Russian scare fort left in New Zealand. The fort was occupied by the New Zealand army from the Russian scare till the end of World War I
and was again garrisoned during World War II
.
The fort is currently the home of two extremely rare guns. One is a BL 8 inch gun (one of only 12 left in the world), which is still in working order, though there are no shells left for such a weapon. It also holds a smaller BL 6 inch gun
that had been commissioned to be in active service but as the first test shot was fired, the recoil system failed and has cracked the barrel and most of the rest of the gun. The 6 inch calibre gun can never be fired again. Though these are the only two guns currently in place at Fort Jervois, there is positioning for another two guns. The other two guns are on the island but have been partially destroyed.
The island has been under the control of the Department of Conservation since 1990. Fort Jervois is classed as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
, and has been considered "actively managed" by Canterbury Conservancy. Future plans have been made to return the island to how it was during the Second World War.
Fort Jervois has been damaged by earthquakes in June 2011 and is closed. Once some remedial repairs are carried out, it may be opened to restricted access.
Lyttelton Harbour
Lyttelton Harbour is one of two major inlets in Banks Peninsula, on the coast of Canterbury, New Zealand. The other is Akaroa Harbour.Approximately 15 km in length from its mouth to Teddington, the harbour was formed from a series of ancient volcanic eruptions that created a caldera, the...
(Whakaraupo) has played many roles in the history of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The island initially played a key role in an internal struggle for the south island Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu
Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior...
tribe in the early 19th Century. In the late 19th century the island was used as a quarantine station for ships arriving from Britain, though 1880 saw the use of the quarantine buildings as a prison, notably for members of the Parihaka
Parihaka
Parihaka is a small community in Taranaki Region, New Zealand, located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. In the 1870s and 1880s the settlement, then reputed to be the largest Māori village in New Zealand, became the centre of a major campaign of non-violent resistance to European...
Māori settlement in Taranaki during its passive resistance campaign against the surveying and selling of its land by the government. The quarantine buildings were dismantled when the Island was incorporated into the coastal defence scheme.
Pre-European history
The site of Ripapa island was perfect for building a pāPa (Maori)
The word pā can refer to any Māori village or settlement, but in traditional use it referred to hillforts fortified with palisades and defensive terraces and also to fortified villages. They first came into being about 1450. They are located mainly in the North Island north of lake Taupo...
(a fortification built by the Māori) and in the early 19th Century, Chief Taununu of the Ngāi Tahu tribe built such a pā on the island. In the 1820s Chief Taununu faced a fierce fight with another Ngāi Tahu group, in what was to be known as the Kai Huanga feud. Kai Huanga, meaning "eat relatives", refers to the cannibalistic nature of the feud and that those they fought and ate were close relatives, even getting to a point where cousin would eat cousin.
The Ngāi Tahu tribe continued to occupy the island until around 1832. Prior to this, Chief Te Whakarukeruke who had been occupying Ripapa Island, left to help defend Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi
Kaiapoi is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, located close to the mouth of the Waimakariri River, and approximately 17 kilometres north of Christchurch....
from Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha was a Māori rangatira and war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe who took a leading part in the Musket Wars. He was influential in the original sale of conquered Rangitane land to the New Zealand Company and was a participant in the Wairau Incident in Marlborough...
. After Kaiapoi fell, Te Rauparaha overran a number of pās on and around Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula is a peninsula of volcanic origin on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It has an area of approximately and encompasses two large harbours and many smaller bays and coves...
, including the pā on Ripapa Island. The island was never again occupied by the Māori.
Fort Jervois
Fort Jervois was built on Ripapa as one of the four defences set up in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to protect Lyttelton Harbour, and as part of the nationwide coastal defences. The walled fort that had been built in 1886 had been re-militarised as a result of a perceived Russian scare and is the most complete Russian scare fort left in New Zealand. The fort was occupied by the New Zealand army from the Russian scare till the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was again garrisoned during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The fort is currently the home of two extremely rare guns. One is a BL 8 inch gun (one of only 12 left in the world), which is still in working order, though there are no shells left for such a weapon. It also holds a smaller BL 6 inch gun
BL 6 inch gun Mk I - VI
The BL 6 inch guns Marks II, III, IV and VI were the second and subsequent generations of British 6-inch breechloading naval guns, designed by the Royal Gun Factory following the first 6-inch breechloader, the relatively unsuccessful BL 6 inch 80 pounder gun designed by Elswick Ordnance. They...
that had been commissioned to be in active service but as the first test shot was fired, the recoil system failed and has cracked the barrel and most of the rest of the gun. The 6 inch calibre gun can never be fired again. Though these are the only two guns currently in place at Fort Jervois, there is positioning for another two guns. The other two guns are on the island but have been partially destroyed.
The island has been under the control of the Department of Conservation since 1990. Fort Jervois is classed as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
, and has been considered "actively managed" by Canterbury Conservancy. Future plans have been made to return the island to how it was during the Second World War.
Fort Jervois has been damaged by earthquakes in June 2011 and is closed. Once some remedial repairs are carried out, it may be opened to restricted access.
See also
- Coastal fortifications of New ZealandCoastal fortifications of New ZealandCoastal fortifications were constructed in New Zealand in two main waves. The first wave occurred around 1885 and was a response to fears of an attack by Russia. The second wave occurred during World War II and was due to fears of invasion by the Japanese....
- History of the Canterbury Region
- List of islands of New Zealand
External links
- Ripapa Island at the Department of Conservation