Draft:Mount Drury

Mount Drury (Hopukiore) is a 40 m high hill located in the suburb Mount Maunganui, in Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. In Māori, the name is Hopukiore, referring to the many rats that live on the hill, and the act of catching them. It also has a playground, Mount Drury Reserve with several climbing walls, monkey bars, swing sets and an accessible wheelchair swing.

Location
It borders the main roads of Marine Parade, Maunganui Road and the smaller streets Grace Avenue and Pacific Avenue. It is also a confirmed tsunami evacuation point, as are Mount Maunganui and Blake Oval.

Māori history
The Māori occupied Mount Drury many years ago and utilised it as a carving school. Rat teeth were used as carving tools. It was also used as a burial site. Early European settlers exploring Mount Drury discovered multiple caves with skeletons, greenstone drops, grinding stones, mats, hooks and weapons. It was also a sacred site used for tattoo art (tā moko). The bones of rats that lived on the hill were used as the tattooing tools.

Military history
Mount Drury was used as a colonial base, as was Mount Maunganui, from 1840 onwards. From these bases many strategic attacks were carried out. In 1842 and 1843 many soldiers were positioned on the hill (the 80th regiment).

Namesake
It was named after Commander Byron Drury, who arrived in Tauranga in 1842, aboard the HMS Pandora. He then continued an incomplete survey over the area of Tauranga started by Captain John Lort Stokes. Its Māori name originates from the many rats on the hill and means ‘to catch rats’.