Te Keepa rose to prominence through his support of the Crown in the New Zealand Wars of the 1860s, leading a troop of Wanganui Maori. For his service to the Crown Te Keepa was presented with the Queen's Sword of Honour in June 1869, and was awarded the New Zealand Cross in 1874 and the New Zealand War Medal in 1876. His military skill and ability to lead was also well respected in Maoridom, and he was acknowledged as a person with high mana. In later life he served as an Assessor for the Maori Land Court, and land purchase officer. He died on 15 April 1898.
The plinth of the Te Keepa monument is of Aberdeen granite and is surmounted by a life-sized figure of Te Keepa sculptured in Italian marble by the Frank Harris Granite Co. in Auckland. The four panels around the base depict the four major engagements Major Kemp took part in during the wars of 1866 to 1870: the battle of Moturoa on 7 November 1866; the surprise at Pungarehu on 6 October 1866; Storming of Te Kooti's pa, Te Porere on 3 October 1869; and the battle at Mapa Marae with Major Poatu on 13 March 1870. There is also a tribute from Major George Whitmore, who as Commander of the New Zealand Constabulary Force (1868-1869) led the campaign against Te Kooti and Titokowaru, and an extract from Colonel Gudgeon's book, Defenders of New Zealand. Constructed at the cost of £1150, the poor quality of the work caused the Court of Appeal to rule Hakarai exmpt from payment for the 'absolutely inartistic' statue that bore so little resemblance to the brother she wished to commemorate.
The significance of the monument rests partly on its association with a key figure in the New Zealand Wars. Te Keepa was arguably the most important of the Maori soldiers who supported the Government. It also has symbolic significance for the location - Moutoa Gardens is the site of many New Zealand Wars memorials and a place of great cultural significance to Maori and Pakeha.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
165
Date Entered
28th June 1984
Date of Effect
28th June 1984
City/District Council
Whanganui District
Region
Horizons (Manawatū-Whanganui) Region
Extent of List Entry
The registration includes the Kemp Monument and a curtilage of 5 metres from the base in all directions and within Pt Res I Town of Wanganui, Wellington Land District.
Legal description
Pt Res I Town of Wanganui (RT WN21/110), Wellington Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Able to Visit
List Number
165
Date Entered
28th June 1984
Date of Effect
28th June 1984
City/District Council
Whanganui District
Region
Horizons (Manawatū-Whanganui) Region
Extent of List Entry
The registration includes the Kemp Monument and a curtilage of 5 metres from the base in all directions and within Pt Res I Town of Wanganui, Wellington Land District.
Legal description
Pt Res I Town of Wanganui (RT WN21/110), Wellington Land District
Construction Details
Start Year
1911
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Italian marble.
Construction Details
Start Year
1911
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Italian marble.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
2nd October 2001
Report Written By
Helen McCracken
Information Sources
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
New Zealand Building Progress
New Zealand Building Progress
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
2nd October 2001
Report Written By
Helen McCracken
Information Sources
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
New Zealand Building Progress
New Zealand Building Progress
Other Information
This place was identified as significant under previous legislation with different information requirements. It remains significant under the current legislation. There is opportunity under our legislation and policies to add to this information. Further information about this place may be available from the Central Regional Office of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Current Usages
Uses: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - New Zealand Wars
Uses: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - Particular person or group
Former Usages
General Usage: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - New Zealand Wars
General Usage: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - Particular person or group
Themes
War Memorial
Current Usages
Uses: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - New Zealand Wars
Uses: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - Particular person or group
Former Usages
General Usage: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - New Zealand Wars
General Usage: Commemoration
Specific Usage: Memorial - Particular person or group
Themes
War Memorial
Location
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