The Spirit of a Place
A New History of The Elms Te Papa Tauranga
SARAH ELL
Published by The Elms Foundation in association with Sherlock & Co. Publishing
16 August 2025
RRP: $60.00
Powerful new history uncovers six centuries of transformation at one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most treasured heritage sites
The Elms Te Papa Tauranga, a place steeped in more than 600 years of rich and at times turbulent history, is the subject of a compelling and beautifully illustrated new book by acclaimed author and historian Sarah Ell. The Spirit of a Place: A New History of The Elms Te Papa Tauranga will be published this August, offering readers an unprecedented portrait of the site and the people who shaped its remarkable story.
From the arrival of the first Polynesian voyaging canoes at Tauranga Moana to the era of European missionaries, traders and settlers, The Spirit of a Place captures the complex interactions that unfolded at Te Papa. Ell traces the construction of the iconic mission house, the evolution of its gardens and farmland, the impact of the New Zealand Wars, and the steadfast efforts of three generations of the Maxwell family, who preserved this unique taonga as Tauranga grew around it.
“This is not just a local history,” says Ell. “It’s a window into the broader story of Aotearoa — colonisation, resilience, relationships and remembrance — all played out on a single site that continues to speak to our national identity.”
Richly illustrated with archival images, original photography by Amanda Aitken, and rare ephemera, the book invites readers inside the lives of Māori, missionaries, women and children, builders and gardeners, and the kaitiaki who have protected The Elms’ legacy. Every page honours the layered narratives and enduring mana of this special place.
The Spirit of a Place has been developed in full collaboration with mana whenua, including Ngāi Tamarāwaho and Ngāti Tapu, ensuring that Māori voices are authentically represented throughout. A mihi from Puhirake Ihaka
ONZM of the Ōtamataha Trust further affirms the cultural importance of the project.
Pick up your copy now direct from The Elms | Te Papa, 15 Mission St, Tauranga.
Or click here for online sales via our distributor.
