A pa site that local iwi say is the only historic site of its kind, was officially opened in central Wellington on Saturday morning.
More than 200 people, including kaumata and iwi from Taranaki and Wellington, gathered in lower Taranaki St from 5am for the blessing of the remains of Te Aro Pa.
The pa site, which dates from the 1840s, contains the preserved foundations of three Maori buildings as well as artefacts from early European settlement.
The preservation of the site, which forms the ground floor of a new apartment complex, has taken three years to complete. It is a joint venture between the developer, local Maori, the Historic Places Trust and the Wellington City Council.