It is located to the west of the city centre, bordering Port Taranaki and the Sugar Loaf Islands.

[4] In 1832 Richard (Dicky) Barrett and his former crewmates (recalled as Akerau, probably Akers, Tamiriri, probably Wright, Kopiri probably Phillips, and Oliver in 1873)[5] joined local Maori in the Otaka pā[6] at Ngamotu, (Where the freezing works are)[1] to aid their defence in the face of an attack by heavily armed Waikato Māori, firing on the invaders with three cannon, using nails, iron scraps and stones for ammunition.

The siege lasted more than three weeks before the Waikato withdrew, leaving a battle scene strewn with bodies, many of which had been cannibalised.

[8] As well as being a trader, Dicky went on to become an explorer, a whaler, interpreter and agent to the NZ Company, a publican and farmer.

Barrett's whaling business suffered heavy losses and, after he was forced to sell his hotel in 1841, he led a party of Te Ātiawa back to Taranaki and went on to help establish settlers in New Plymouth.

[8] Barrett died at Moturoa, on 23 February 1847, possibly from a heart attack or following injury after a whaling accident, and was buried in Wāitapu urupa (cemetery) at the seaside end of Bayly Road, adjacent to Ngāmotu Beach, New Plymouth, alongside his daughter Mary Ann, and later on by his wife Wakaiwa Rawinia, in 1849.

Cargo was transported by small vessels to ships waiting out at sea until the port was opened in 1881.

[14] New Plymouth's electric tramway system (proposed as early as 1906)[15] began operations on 10 March 1916 between Fitzroy and Weymouth Street (a short distance past the railway station).

[19] The stream and lagoon, in Sir George Greys' Polynesian Mythology, were said to be named by "Turi" in relation to the strong smell of "sulphuretted hydrogen gas".

The New Year's celebration and other carnivals at Ngāmotu became annual events, drawing crowds from all around Taranaki till they began to decline in popularity from the late 1950s.

The final carnival was held at the beach in 1966, giving way to other, more fashionable, forms of family entertainment.

[33] The team was able to secure the prison reserve field opposite the freezing works for training.

[34] Owing to more Thursday teams playing Saturday competitions, the club amalgamated with Star Rugby Football Club on 7 May 1914,[35] retaining a junior team to play in white, the colour of Moturoa,[36] but wearing the Star emblem on the jersey.