, the namesake of the suburb
The siege of Otaka Pā and Dicky Barrett In 1832
Richard (Dicky) Barrett and his former crewmates (recalled as Akerau, probably Akers, Tamiriri, probably Wright, Kopiri probably Phillips, and Oliver in 1873) joined local
Maori in the Otaka
pā at Ngamotu, (Where the freezing works are) to aid their defence in the face of an attack by heavily armed
Waikato Māori, firing on the invaders with three cannon, using nails, iron scraps and stones for ammunition. The siege lasted more than three weeks before the Waikato withdrew, leaving a battle scene strewn with bodies, many of which had been
cannibalised. In June Barrett, and John (Jacky) Love, migrated south with as many as 3000
Atiawa Māori. Jacky Love, was Captain of the 60 ton schooner
Adventure. The
Adventure’s arrival in New Zealand came almost 60 years after
Captain James Cook’s first voyage in 1769. As well as being a trader, Dicky went on to become an explorer, a whaler, interpreter and agent to the NZ Company, a publican and farmer. Barrett's whaling business suffered heavy losses and, after he was forced to sell his hotel in 1841, he led a party of Te Ātiawa back to Taranaki and went on to help establish settlers in New Plymouth.
Early Industry In 1865 the Alpha well was drilled near
Mikotahi at
New Plymouth. This was the first oil well in what is now the
Commonwealth and one of the first in the world. A petroleum industry developed at Moturoa, including producing wells and refineries, known as the Moturoa oilfield. The last refinery there was closed in 1972. The field continues to produce small quantities of oil. There was once an ironworks, oilworks, dairy and meat cool store.
Trams (public transport) New Plymouth's electric tramway system (proposed as early as 1906) began operations on 10 March 1916 between Fitzroy and Weymouth Street (a short distance past the railway station). In the first week of operation, 18,213 passengers rode the trams. Weymouth Street through Moturoa to the
Breakwater at the port opened on 21 April 1916. The closure of the system on 23 July 1954.
Moturoa Street Moturoa Street was once known as Medley Lane and lined with houses but these have mostly disappeared. They have been replaced with commercial premises or are vacant sections. The street was nicknamed as "Melody Lane" by Tigertown residents.
Hongi-Hongi stream The Hongi-hongi stream has its source to the east of Eton Place. The stream once made its way to a lagoon and then into the sea at Ngamotu Beach. The Honeyfield residence, built by Dicky Barrett, was close by on the eastern side, with sand dunes on the western side. The stream and lagoon, in Sir George Greys'
Polynesian Mythology, were said to be named by "Turi" in relation to the strong smell of "sulphuretted hydrogen gas". The stream is culverted from the end of Harbour Street, going under Breakwater Road, through to the western end of what remains of Ngāmotu Beach.
Ngāmotu Beach Ngāmotu Beach was labelled "The Playshore of the Pacific". The New Year's celebration and other carnivals at Ngāmotu became annual events, drawing crowds from all around Taranaki till they began to decline in popularity from the late 1950s. The final carnival was held at the beach in 1966, giving way to other, more fashionable, forms of family entertainment. ==Demographics==