The Spirit of a Place

Hidden in the centre of a busy and fast-growing city lies an oasis of calm, a picture-perfect house surrounded by lush, well-tended gardens. Push open the wooden gate and find yourself transported to another world, into a slice of living history carefully preserved for nearly two centuries...

The Elms Te Papa Tauranga is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most important heritage sites, bearing witness to more than six hundred years of significant and at times turbulent history. The Spirit of a Place is a captivating portrait of this unique site and all the people who have made it their home.

Its story is Aotearoa’s history in microcosm. It begins with the arrival of the first Polynesian voyaging canoes to Tauranga Moana, then explores the arrival of Pākehā and the complex interactions that followed. It describes the construction of a magnificent house, the development of its gardens and farms, and the devastating impact of war. And it tells the story of three generations of the Maxwell family who, as a city grew around them, recognised this place’s significance and dedicated their lives to preserving its physical and cultural fabric — the spirit of the place.

Today, The Elms Te Papa Tauranga is the city’s premier heritage visitor destination, inviting all to discover its stories and learn about the history of Tauranga and New Zealand as a whole. This fascinating new account shines light on all those who have lived here: Māori and missionary, women and children, builders and gardeners, protectors and preservers — the kaitiaki of its incredible legacy, which lives on into the future.

Absorbing and accessible, and generously illustrated with photographs, art and ephemera, The Spirit of a Place celebrates the special position held by The Elms Te Papa Tauranga in the history of Aotearoa New Zealand.