Mackaytown

Last updated

Mackaytown is a settlement in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, located at the north-western end of the Karangahake Gorge just south of Paeroa.

Contents

It is named after local Government administrator and politician James Mackay. [1]

The settlement consists of eight roads branching off State Highway 2. [2] It is bordered by Turner's Hill, Doherty's Creek, Ohinemuri River, and the sacred Tapu Ariki burial grounds on Te Moananui's Hill. [1]

History

Pre-European history

The Ohinemuri River is within the rohe (traditional tribal area) of Ngāti Hako and Ngāti Tara Tokanui. Ohinemuri is a Māori word, meaning "the girl left behind", referring to a legend about a chief's daughter who was detained by a taniwha at Turner's Hill. [1]

Early Māori settlers travelled the area extensively, mostly by waka, but also by crossing the forest and stream fords on foot. Missionary Samuel Marsden was across the river, when passing through the area on his way from Thames to Tauranga in 1820. [1]

European settlement

Europeans began settling the area for gold-mining in the middle of the 19th century. They reached Paeroa by boat, and followed the river on foot. The hilly country made it difficult for horses to haul heavy machinery to the mines. [1]

The new town was named after local administrator James Mackay, who was involved in establishing the township during his time as Thames Goldfield Warden in 1867 and 1868. [3] The nearby Turner's Hill was named after early settler James Turner, who built a thatched cottage on the hill. [1]

The town became an important stop for travellers. A post office opened in 1875 and a school opened in 1876. [1]

The area was surveyed between 1877 and 1887, allowing roads to be built further into the gorge. The Mackaytown school house burned some time after 1885, and a new school was established in the main Karangahape settlement in 1889. [1]

Modern history

In 1898, the Mackaytown Hotel was replaced with a newer, larger hotel. [4] It had eight bedrooms, three sitting rooms, a commercial room, a dining room for sixty guests, and a stable for 15 horses. [5]

By 1900, 50 people were living in Mackaytown and property prices were rising. [5] The township had a suburban atmosphere, and a calcium tungstate mine. [4]

The town continued to accommodate passing travellers well into the 20th century. [4]

Photographs of the settlement, held by the National Library of New Zealand, shows little change to the size of the settlement between 1914 and 1958. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

Paeroa is a town in the Hauraki District of the Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula, it is close to the junction of the Waihou River and Ohinemuri River, and is approximately 20 kilometres south of the Firth of Thames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hauraki District</span> Territorial authority district in Waikato Region, New Zealand

Hauraki District is a territorial authority within the Hauraki region of New Zealand. The seat of the council is at Paeroa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karangahake Gorge</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waihou River</span> River in Waikato, New Zealand

The Waihou River is located in the northern North Island of New Zealand. Its former name, Thames River, was bestowed by Captain James Cook in November 1769, when he explored 14 mi (23 km) of the river from the mouth. An older Māori name was "Wai Kahou Rounga". A 1947 Geographic Board enquiry ruled that the official name would be Waihou.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohinemuri River</span> River in New Zealand

The Ohinemuri River is located in the northern half of New Zealand's North Island, at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hauraki Plains</span> Region of New Zealand

The Hauraki Plains are a geographical feature and non-administrative area located in the northern North Island of New Zealand, at the lower (northern) end of the Thames Valley. They are located 75 kilometres south-east of Auckland, at the foot of the Coromandel Peninsula and occupy the southern portion of a rift valley bounded on the north-west by the Hunua Ranges, to the east by the Coromandel and Kaimai ranges and to the west by a series of undulating hills which separate the plains from the much larger plains of the Waikato River. Broadly, the northern and southern parts of the Hauraki Plains are administered by the Hauraki District and the Matamata-Piako District respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Pīhopatanga o Te Manawa o Te Wheke</span>

Te Pīhopatanga o Te Manawa o Te Wheke is an episcopal polity or diocese of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Literally, the diocese is the Anglican bishopric of the heart of the octopus of the North Island of Aotearoa, New Zealand; also known as the synod.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hikutaia</span> Place in Waikato, New Zealand

Hikutaia is a locality on the Hauraki Plains of New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 26, south east of Thames and north of Paeroa. The Hikutaia River runs from the Coromandel Range through the area to join the Waihou River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ngāti Tamaterā</span> Māori iwi in New Zealand

Ngāti Tamaterā is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the Hauraki region of New Zealand, descended from Tamaterā, the second son of Marutūāhu. It is a major tribe within the Marutūāhu confederation and its leaders have been prominent in Hauraki history and Marutūāhu tribal affairs. It is one of five tribes of the Marutūāhu confederation, the others being Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Rongoū and Ngāti Whanaunga. The Marutūāhu tribes are all descended from Marutūāhu, a son of Hotunui, who is said to have arrived in New Zealand on the Tainui canoe. The Marutūāhu tribes are therefore part of the Tainui group of tribes. The Marutūāhu confederation is also part of the Hauraki collective of tribes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thames Branch</span>

The Thames Branch railway line connected Thames, New Zealand, with Hamilton and was originally part of the East Coast Main Trunk railway. Part of the line between Morrinsville and Waitoa remains open and is in use as the Waitoa Branch line, connecting to the Fonterra Dairy Factory at Waitoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waitawheta River</span> River in New Zealand

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Mackay (New Zealand politician, born 1831)</span>

James Mackay was a New Zealand farmer, explorer, public servant, administrator, land purchaser, interpreter, advocate and politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohinemuri County</span>

Ohinemuri County was one of the counties of New Zealand of the North Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paeroa railway station</span> Defunct railway station in New Zealand

Paeroa railway station is a former railway station in Paeroa; on the Thames Branch, and on the East Coast Main Trunk Railway to Waihi. Between 1895 and 1991 Paeroa had a station at the north end of the town centre, followed by one further north, another back near the town centre and then another over a mile south of the town.

Te Patukirikiri is a Māori iwi of the Hauraki area of New Zealand.

Tirohia is a rural community in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It was one of the main areas used by Ngāti Hako, including Te Rae o te Papa pā. A bridge was built over the Waihou River in 1919.

Awaiti is a rural community in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, west of Paeroa.

Maratoto is a valley and rural community in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, north of Paeroa.

Kopuarahi is a rural settlement and farming community in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whakatīwai</span> Coastal settlement in Hauraki District, New Zealand

Whakatīwai is a locality on the Seabird Coast on the western shore of the Firth of Thames, in the Hauraki District, New Zealand. Whakatīwai is the location of Wharekawa Marae, which holds importance for Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga. Whakatīwai Regional Park is just north of Whakatīwai. Until 2010, Whakatīwai was a part of the Franklin District. Because it was previously considered a part of the Auckland region, the Whakatīwai Regional Park continues to be owned and operated by the Auckland Council.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Climie, N S (1983). "Introduction". Karangahake: the years of the gold 1875 -1935. Whakatane: Paeroa & District Historical and Arts Society.
  2. ↑ "Mackaytown". hauraki-dc.govt.nz. Hauraki District Council.
  3. ↑ Pedersen, Marcus (2017). Great Expeditions: the Journeys of John Rochfort, James Mackay and Julius Haast to the West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand, 1859–60. Greymouth, New Zealand: Toro Press. ISBN   978-0-473-40254-9.
  4. 1 2 3 Climie, N S (1983). "Growth of Mackaytown". Karangahake: the years of the gold 1875 -1935. Whakatane: Paeroa & District Historical and Arts Society.
  5. 1 2 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Christchurch: Cyclopedia Company. 1902. p. 917.
  6. ↑ Price, William Archer (12 May 1914). Photograph by William A Price. Mackaytown: William A Price.
  7. ↑ Aerial photograph taken by Whites Aviation. Mackaytown: Whites Aviation Limited. 10 April 1958.

37°24′40″S175°42′25″E / 37.411°S 175.707°E / -37.411; 175.707

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.