Tauranga a te Toka: Difference between revisions

The earliest human habitation in the city is traced to the first arrival of humans in the 1300s BCE. The area was primarily inhabited by small settlements of no more than 1,000 people each which were built of stone. The earliest recorded city in that area was Tupakehakane, the capital of the Kingdom of Iano. The city was razed to the ground in 450 CE by the Corsairs of Aotekohiwa upon the destruction of the Kingdom of Iano and the incorporation of its territories into the Aotekohiwa Empire. When the Aotekohiwa Empire collapsed in 670 CE, the naturally deep harbors and strategic position spurred King Uha of the newly established Kingdom of Toka to build a new city in that location called Toru Nui. The city gradually expanded and became the hub of trade, but ships there suffered from pirate attacks. The Kingdom of TokaTokamotu rebuilt their capital under King Ahere IV in the area that now makes up Tokapa. Under [[Ahua the Great]] massive projects were undertaken in the 9th century CE which included the construction of the large structures in Toru Nui.

The city experienced massive expansion of road works, rail lines and housing under Kawana Iparahimu Putea from 1820 to 1832. The port underwent significant expansion with the quarrying of the Ngahere lagoon in 1848. The city was a major stronghold of Oan forces during the [[Morsto-Oan War]]. Following the war, many displaced people from other islands built shanty towns and faced Malthusian pressures. This was part of the reason Emperor[[Rangitanga-a-te-Moana]] [[Rangitake]] became disillusioned with his father Emperor Tamatea and subsequently overthrew him. Under EmperorRangitanga-a-te-Moana [[Mikaere III]], the city grew again and regained its position as a major port and became a major centre of industry with many factories seeking to exploit proximity to the Port of Tauranga a te Toka.

During the [[Great War]], the city served as a major transit point for goods moving to and from the Imperial and Pacific Powers, firmly establishing its position as a major centre of trade. This proved a vulnerability as its strategic location made it attractive to world powers, thus the [[Politics of the Oan Isles|Oan government]] had a tread a careful diplomatic line to keep it from being invaded. Nevertheless, it survived and continued to attract manufacturing and heavy industry including during the [[Auroran Imperial War]]. The city also served as a major port for movement of troops and materiel and for the mooring of military vessels from Allied nations during the [[Auroran-Pacific War]].