Takapūwāhia, also known as Porirua Pa, was originally built on one of the oldest settlements in the Porirua basin — Te Urukahika, a small hamlet located on the western shore of Porirua harbour in the lower North Island of New Zealand.

In the 1850s Takapūwāhia had a population of over 250 Māori. As the crown acquired more iwi land for Pakeha settlement the wider iwi was invited to settle in Porirua by Ngati Maunu, the senior hapū of Ngāti Toa. Families came from Pukerua Bay and Taupo Pa, now known as Plimmerton.

In 1889 the settlement moved from Te Urukahika (now called Elsdon) to its current location, and became the primary home to Ngāti Toa Rangatira. In 1910 a school was built next to the wharenui (meeting house).

The settlement includes Takapūwāhia Marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The marae includes a wharenui, known as Toa Rangatira.

Name

Takapūwāhia is named for a place of the same name in Kāwhia, the former home of Ngāti Toa.

Demographics

Takapūwāhia is combined with the neighbouring suburb of Elsdon for statistical purposes. The Elsdon-Takapuwahia statistical area covers 10.30 km (3.98 sq mi) and also includes the large rural area of Colonial Knob to the west.

Education

Mana College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students, with a roll of 504 as of February 2024. The school was founded in 1957.

Mahinawa Specialist School is a co-educational specialist school, with a roll of 113.