How about a place that whispers tales of ancient volcanoes and fertile lands? I’m talking about Puke Ō kai. It’s a hill with a history etched in its very soil.
Puke Ō kai’s story begins way back. We are talking about 550.000 to 1.6 million years ago. This whole area was a section of the South Auckland volcanic field. Think of fire and earth shaping the landscape.
The traditional Māori name for Puke Ō kai Hill is actually Pukekohekohe. It means “Hill of Kohekohe”. The Kohekohe tree was once a prominent part of the native bush here.
This area was very important to Waiohua tribes. These included Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Te Ata, and Te Ākitai. The hill offered strategic views. Plus the soil was great for growing crops. The northern slopes of Puke Ō kai were home to some of the largest croplands. These croplands fed the Tāmaki Māori people.
But the Musket Wars in the 1820s changed everything. Many people around Pukekohe migrated south. They were trying to avoid the threat from Ngāpuhi and other northern tribes. However, gradually they returned from the mid-1830s.
The Crown purchased the Pukekohe block in 1843. They paid £150 in cash and £170 worth of goods. The Crown established Te Awa nui o Taikehu. This reserve was for Te Ākitai Waiohua. This happened during land sales around modern-day Pukekohe. Some of this land was accidentally sold to settlers. The Crown compensated the settlers. It also returned land to local iwi.
By 1856, European settlements were well established. These settlements were in the north and western parts of Pukekohe.
Fears of the Māori King Movement led to a proclamation in 1863. Governor George Grey demanded that all Māori south of Auckland. They needed to swear loyalty to the Queen and give up their weapons. Most refused. They had strong links to Tainui. They left for the south before the Government’s Invasion of the Waikato. Small numbers remained. They tended their farms to maintain their land rights.
A major battle of the Waikato War happened at Pukekohe East on September 14, 1863. Eleven armed settlers fought approximately 200–300 Māori. The settlers held off the Māori war party. Troops from the 18th Royal Irish Regiment arrived. No settlers died. Thirty Māori were killed.
The New Zealand Government confiscated large tracts of land in 1865. After this the town of Pukekohe was established. It sat on the northern slopes of Pukekohe Hill.
Following the Waikato War, the government wanted to populate the Pukekohe area. They offered migrants from Britain and Cape Colony land to settle here.
Large areas of fertile, volcanic land became available for growing crops. Onions and potatoes were first grown in Pukekohe as early as the 1850s. Large-scale market growing of vegetables began in 1870. Horticulturalist John Bilkey planted a successful crop of onions on Pukekohe Hill in 1892. Local farmers then started cultivating onion patches.
By 1875, Pukekohe was connected to Auckland by rail. This led to the largest population growth.
On June 10, 1905, Pukekohe became a town district. By 1907, Pukekohe’s town centre had one main street. It was filled with stores and workshops.
Pukekohe’s market gardens became major suppliers of agricultural produce. They supplied Auckland and Wellington.
Mitha Unka arrived in Pukekohe in 1918. He was the first Indian settler. An Indian community grew in the town during the 1930s and 1940s.
Today, Puke Ō kai stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of the geological forces that shaped this land. It is also a reminder of the people who have called it home. From the early Māori settlers. To the European farmers. To the diverse communities. All have left their mark on this hill. Puke Ō kai is a place where the past and present intertwine. It offers a unique perspective on the history of the Auckland region.