History of the Parapara Area
Acknowledgement is given to Ross Annabell and Marion Donald for their excellent book the heart of the PARAPARA & Field’s Track from which valuable information on the Parapara was gathered.
The European history of the Parapara began in 1840 with the arrival of Captain John (Jock) McGregor in Wanganui. He was one of New Zealand’s early whalers and one of the district’s early pioneers as well as the first European settler in the Parapara. He ventured into unexplored areas where few Pakeha had ventured before him, exploring, trading and buying land resulting in various clashes with the local Maori.
The Rev. Richard Taylor and his family arrived in Wanganui in 1843 to replace the previous Anglican missionary. He was probably the first Pakeha to reach the Mangawhero and his reports sparked a move to explore the hinterland by land seekers like McGregor. Taylor described the Mangawhero as a beautiful valley with steep ascents and descents, very romantic scenery and the river as very rapid and winding.
With the final peace in 1869, the first European explorers were able to take the trails blazed by the Maori and Rev. Taylor into the Mangawhero and beyond.