Moa eggs for breakfast anyone? Pāremoremo has a unique history. It even involves a hearty meal of extinct bird eggs.
Pāremoremo is a rural settlement. It sits on Auckland’s northern fringe. This area offers more than just picturesque views.
Let’s dive into the story of Pāremoremo. It is a place where Māori history meets timber mills and a maximum-security prison.
Once upon a time, Rangi-hua-moa enjoyed a final moa egg meal. She was a Te Ākitai Waiohua ancestor. Kiwi Tāmaki was her grandson. This event forever linked her to Pāremoremo.
In the 1840s, Maurice and Mary Kelly ran a timber business. They operated between Pāremoremo and Albany. Pāremoremo transformed into a community. A wharf was built at Attwood Road. Farms, gardens and orchards thrived. Small ferries carried passengers to the city.
Fast forward to the mid-1960s. Pāremoremo became home to Auckland Prison. It is New Zealand’s main maximum-security prison. The Ministry of Justice built 130 houses for prison workers. In 1996, 30 of these houses were sold.
Today, Pāremoremo has about 540 residents. This includes the rural area. It covers just over one square kilometer. The population density is about 420 people per square kilometer.
The area is diverse. Most residents identify as European. There are also Māori, Asian and Pacific Islander communities. English is widely spoken.
Pāremoremo offers more than just history and demographics. Paremoremo Scenic Reserve is the largest bush reserve on the North Shore. Sanders Park features beaches and trails.
Ridgeview School has been educating local children since 1923. It was formerly known as Paremoremo School. It changed its name in 2000.
Pāremoremo is a blend of history, rural charm and modern life. From moa eggs to timber mills to a maximum-security prison, Pāremoremo is a place of contrasts. Pāremoremo is a unique destination.