Stonewalling of the original peninsula road to Portobello and beyond was carried out in the 1870s by Maoriprisoners and deportees from the wars in the North Island, many from Parihaka pa, in Taranaki. A hulk in the harbour provided accommodation, particularly as their work moved further down the peninsula from Dunedin. Modern-day repairers wear mock convict regalia in commemoration of their predecessors.