Māori history in Pukekohe stretches back centuries, rooted in the fertile volcanic soils of the Franklin district. The story of Ngāti Tamaoho — the primary iwi of the area — is one of cultivation, conflict, land loss, and ultimately, Treaty settlement.
Key Dates in Pukekohe’s Māori History
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13th–14th century | Māori first settle the Tāmaki region including the Franklin district |
| 1820s | Musket Wars — population shifts south; gradual return from mid-1830s |
| 7 Dec 1843 | Crown purchases the Pukekohe block for £150 cash and £170 in goods |
| July 1863 | Invasion of the Waikato begins; Ngāti Tamaoho labelled rebels |
| 14 Sep 1863 | Battle of Pukekohe East — settlers in church redoubt repel Māori taua |
| Dec 1863 | New Zealand Settlements Act — mass land confiscation begins |
| 30 Apr 2017 | Ngāti Tamaoho signs Deed of Settlement with the Crown |
Māori History of the Pukekohe Area
Early Settlement and Ngāti Tamaoho
Ngāti Tamaoho is a Māori iwi of Auckland and the Waikato district, part of the Waiohua confederation of tribes. The fertile volcanic soils of Pukekohe Hill made the area exceptionally valuable — the northern slopes were home to some of the largest māra kai (cultivated gardens) of the Tāmaki Māori people. The hill’s strategic elevated position also made it a natural site for settlement and observation. Their traditional rohe (territory) spans South Auckland and the northern Waikato — Papakura, Karaka, the Manukau Harbour, Bombay, Pukekohe, Waiuku, and the Āwhitu Peninsula.
The Musket Wars and Disruption
During the 1820s, Ngāpuhi and other northern tribes armed with muskets raided through the Auckland isthmus and beyond. Many Ngāti Tamaoho families migrated south for safety. From the mid-1830s, as tensions eased, communities gradually returned to the Franklin district. This period of disruption made the iwi more vulnerable to the Crown land purchases that followed.
Crown Land Purchases
The Crown purchased the Pukekohe block on 7 December 1843 for £150 in cash and £170 worth of goods. European settlers — many of them Presbyterian Scots — arrived in the 1850s and began farming the fertile volcanic soils. The town of Pukekohe grew quickly through the 1860s as farms were established across the district.
The Waikato War and the Battle of Pukekohe East
In July 1863, Governor George Grey launched the invasion of the Waikato, using the rejection of an oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria as his trigger. Ngāti Tamaoho — labelled rebels — were ejected from their tūpuna whenua (ancestral land) and rendered largely landless.
The most significant military action in the Pukekohe area was the Battle of Pukekohe East on 14 September 1863. Eleven armed settlers and six militia, sheltering inside a half-completed log stockade built around the newly constructed Pukekohe East Presbyterian church, held off a taua (war party) of approximately 200 Māori from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Pou for two days. The Māori force sustained around 20% casualties before withdrawing. The church still stands today and is a recognised New Zealand Wars memorial site.
Land Confiscation
The New Zealand Settlements Act, passed in December 1863, allowed the Crown to confiscate land from iwi deemed to have rebelled. Over 480,000 hectares were taken from Waikato–Tainui. Ngāti Tamaoho lost their ancestral lands and scattered — some remaining in Tāmaki Makaurau, others following Waikato to the King Country. The iwi was left virtually landless for more than 150 years.
Treaty Settlement
On 30 April 2017, the people of Ngāti Tamaoho signed their Deed of Settlement with the Crown at Mangatangi Marae. The settlement included a formal Crown apology acknowledging the injustice of land confiscation and the branding of Ngāti Tamaoho as rebels. Today the iwi has three marae — at Karaka, Mangatangi, and Pukekohe (Ngā Hau e Whā) — and an active presence in the Franklin district.
E-Tangata, a Māori and Pasifika current affairs website, has detailed first-person accounts of the Ngāti Tamaoho journey — from the historical injustice of land confiscation through to the emotion of the 2017 Treaty settlement signing at Mangatangi Marae.
The Pukekohe East church, now a New Zealand Wars memorial, is one of the few surviving sites directly connected to the 1863 conflicts in the Franklin district. Visitors note the contrast between the quiet rural setting and the intensity of what took place there in September 1863.
Where to Learn More
NZ History — Pukekohe East NZ Wars Memorial covers the Defence of Pukekohe East in detail, including the context of the 1863 invasion and the military action at the church stockade. An authoritative Ministry for Culture and Heritage resource.
The Ngāti Tamaoho Trust is the official website of the iwi, covering their history, rohe, marae, and current initiatives — including their vision for the Manukau Harbour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the tangata whenua of Pukekohe?
Ngāti Tamaoho is the primary iwi of the Pukekohe and Franklin district, part of the Waiohua confederation. Their traditional territory encompasses South Auckland and the northern Waikato, including Pukekohe, Karaka, Papakura, Waiuku, and the Āwhitu Peninsula.
What does Pukekohe mean in Māori?
Pukekohe translates roughly as “hill of the kohekohe tree” — puke meaning hill, and kohekohe referring to the native Dysoxylum spectabile tree that once grew there.
What happened to Ngāti Tamaoho during the NZ Wars?
In 1863, Ngāti Tamaoho were labelled rebels during the Waikato War and forcibly removed from their ancestral land. They were rendered virtually landless, scattering through South Auckland and into the Waikato. Their land was confiscated under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863.
What was the Battle of Pukekohe East?
On 14 September 1863, a taua of around 200 Māori warriors attacked a settler stockade built around the Pukekohe East Presbyterian church. Eleven settlers and six militia held the position for two days until relieved by British regulars. The church still stands and is a recognised NZ Wars memorial.
When did Ngāti Tamaoho receive Treaty settlement?
Ngāti Tamaoho signed their Deed of Settlement with the Crown on 30 April 2017 at Mangatangi Marae. The settlement included a formal Crown apology and redress for land confiscation and other Treaty breaches.
Where are the Ngāti Tamaoho marae?
Ngāti Tamaoho has three marae: at Karaka, Mangatangi, and Pukekohe. The Pukekohe marae is known as Ngā Hau e Whā — “the four winds.”
Can I visit the Pukekohe East church?
The Pukekohe East church is a publicly accessible NZ Wars memorial site, located in the Pukekohe East area. It is the oldest surviving church in the Auckland region and retains features from its 1863 fortification. Visit NZ History for details on the site and its significance.
More to Explore in Pukekohe
For heritage walks through the Franklin district’s past, the Franklin Early Settlers Walkway passes key sites from the settler and pre-colonial era. The Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church — the fortified building at the heart of the 1863 battle — is one of Auckland’s oldest surviving churches and still stands in the Pukekohe East area. For a full directory of heritage places and cultural landmarks across the district, browse our historical and cultural sites in Pukekohe.