What if I told you Te Miro Bay wasn’t always called Te Miro Bay? Before 1916 this area was known as Maungakawa. Now, let’s explore the story of this place.
Te Miro Bay is a beautiful bay with a rich history. It’s a place where the past and present intertwine. The name Te Miro first appeared when the area was surveyed for European settlement.
The Maori word “miro” can mean a twist. It can also mean a torrent of water. This might come from the many streams twisting through the hills. Before the name change the area was called Maungakawa.
The first Maori settlement was by the Ngati Haua people. They settled at Te Kawehitiki. This was on the lower slopes of the Maungakawa volcanic cone. It’s located on what is now Hopehill farm.
Large Maori gatherings began here in the 1880s. A notable gathering happened in 1893. Maungakawa became a focal point for the Waikato King movement. King Tawhiao led this movement. A Maori Parliament meeting house was built here in 1891. It was only used a few times for large meetings. A fire badly damaged the structure in 1898. It was abandoned by 1902 and soon dismantled.
Early access to Maungakawa from Cambridge was via Maungakawa Road. This road is now known as Sanatorium Hill.
Missionaries arrived in New Zealand in 1814. This led to European settlers arriving in the Waikato. In the 1850s missionaries and farmers settled in Te Miro. They introduced modern farming to the local Maori. They helped set up two flour mills. Grinding wheels were imported from England and France. Wheat was a profitable crop at this time. Later cheaper grain from Australia hurt the market.
Daniel Thornton was the first settler to buy land near Te Miro in 1868. Around 1894 his widow built a large residence. This is now known as Sanatorium Hill.
In 1916 the government bought most of James Taylor’s 12000-acre farm. It was surveyed and named the Te Miro Settlement. It opened to settlement after World War One. Seventy-two sections were balloted to returning servicemen. These sections ranged from 1 to 323 acres.
Initially the settlement used Maungakawa Road for access to Cambridge. Later Te Miro Road was linked to Flume Road. This became the main access road. The village of Te Miro was surveyed. It was at the intersection of Te Miro and upper Maungakawa roads. It included 20 small lots and a school reserve.
A school was built on the reserve in 1920. A post office opened in a local residence in 1921. The first industry was a Rimu sawmill. It was located above the school and supported by a tramway. A community hall was built in 1956.
The new settlers had little financial support from the government. A rabbit plague and the 1921 depression caused many to abandon their land. Some persisted and established successful farms.
Te Miro celebrated its centennial in 2020. A history of the school and district was published. Today it is a community of about 280 properties. These include dairy farms, lifestyle blocks and residences.
Te Miro includes a southern area called Whitehall. Excluding Whitehall, Te Miro is about 27 square kilometers. The population is about 500. The most visible point is the volcanic cone Ruru. It is 482 meters high. A telecommunications tower sits on top of Ruru. From Ruru, Maungakawa and Te Tapui extend southeast.
The area is gently rolling hills. Land use is mostly pastoral and dairy farming. There are also native bush areas and pine plantations.
Te Miro’s main employment comes from dairy and drystock farming. Most other residents commute to Cambridge and Hamilton for work. The main access to Te Miro is via Te Miro Road. This connects to the Waikato Expressway.
Te Miro is also home to the Te Miro Mountain Bike Park. It offers 7 kilometers of trails.
Te Miro School was built in 1920.
As you stand here at Te Miro Bay consider the layers of history. From Maori settlements to soldier-settlers and modern-day life. Te Miro Bay is a testament to the resilience and spirit of its people.