Pukekawa

Pukekawa volcano is located in the Lower Waikato area of the Waikato District, New Zealand. It was in the Franklin District until 2010. It is 66 km south of central Auckland. Pukekawa, an extinct volcano, is one of the oldest volcanic cones in the Auckland region. The area's fertile soils are used to grow a range of vegetables, including onions, potatoes and carrots. There is the Pukekawa primary school which is located right opposite the garage/store. Most of the services, supermarkets, banks, chemist and shops are located at Tuakau some 8 kilometres away and a further 10 km there is Pukekohe which is a thriving New Zealand rural town. The Onewhero Golf Club is listed by newzealand.com as the sole recreational activity in Pukekawa. The former State Highway 22 runs through Pukekawa.

An ancient Maori pā (fortress) lies on the summit of Pukekawa hill. Otherwise Pukekawa shows no signs of pre-European contact Maori settlement. Its name pukekawa (bitter hill) tells why. The hill could not grow the kūmara (sweet potato).

In the 1920s James Cowan described Pukekawa as a "beautiful round green hill on the west side of Waikato".

From the beginning of the Waikato military campaigns, Ngati Maniapoto made Pukekawa their entrenched headquarters. From Pukekawa they launched raids upon the neighbouring British settlements. From a raid from Pukekawa the British army supply depot Cameron town was raided and burnt to the ground in 1863. A British detachment sent to attack the about one hundred men Maori raiding war party was scattered by gun fire and through the night the soldiers were hunted down in the bush.

In a peace agreement with the New Zealand Government in the 1880s, Pukekawa was returned to Ngati Maniapoto. In 1888, the Maori King, Tawhaio, moved there with his followers. By 1892 there were 80-90 Maori houses (whare) on Pukekawa. King Tawhaio's house, a large whare, stood there.

The Maori settlers grew on Pukekawa market garden crops, mostly potatoes and maize. Market gardens have been the staple crops on Pukekawa ever since.

Pukekawa became famous by the early 1890s with both Māori and Pakeha for its horse racing and betting. Hundreds of Māori and Pakeha attended the Pukekawa races. The Pukekawa racing cup had the prize of twenty pounds which far eclipsed the neighbouring Pakeha racing cups. From Pukekawa King Tawhaio and his Court made every year regular regal tours through the North Island. King Tawhaio set up in Pukekawa an alternate Māori Government which was not recognised by the Crown nor the New Zealand Government.

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Wikipedia