Last updated October 2026
Meremere is a small town in the Waikato District, on the east bank of the Waikato River and south of Pukekohe. It sits beside the Waikato Expressway, so the road north toward Pukekohe and Auckland, and south toward Huntly and Hamilton, is direct.
The township took shape around a coal-fired power station, but this stretch of riverbank was already a major defensive position during the New Zealand Wars. A preserved redoubt still looks over the river, and the former station remains the town’s most familiar landmark. To the north, the Whangamarino wetlands are one of the defining landscapes of northern Waikato.
Official Locality Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 570, up 4% since 2018
- Land area
- 10.10 km²
- Location
- 19.9 km south-east of central Pukekohe
- Council
- Waikato District Council
- Getting there
- By road on the Waikato Expressway, which carries State Highway 1 past the town on the east bank of the Waikato River, with links north toward Pukekohe and Auckland and south toward Huntly and Hamilton.
- Schools
- Meremere School, a co-educational state full primary school (Years 1 to 8) on Heather Green Avenue.
- Nearby landmarks
- Former Meremere Power Station, Meremere Redoubt, Meremere Dragway, and the Whangamarino wetlands.
Who Lives in Meremere
About 570 residents in 180 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
About Meremere
Meremere is not part of Pukekohe or of Auckland. It is a Waikato District town, close enough to Pukekohe for an easy drive, and almost halfway between Auckland and Hamilton.
Waikato District Council places it about 63 kilometres south of Auckland, about 62 kilometres north of Hamilton, and about 30 kilometres north of Huntly. The expressway is why living in the town and working elsewhere is practical.
During the New Zealand Wars the place was known as Mere Mere. A pā on the hill was the first major Māori defensive position after the British invasion of the Waikato began in July 1863.
Warriors from tribes that acknowledged King Tāwhiao gathered here, with Ngāti Hauā leader Wiremu Tāmihana in overall command. British gunboats on the river, including the Pioneer, were used against the position.
The modern township grew in the 1950s, when a coal-burning thermal power station was built beside the river. The station operated from 1958 until 1991, and the workers’ village associated with it remains. For decades the buildings were a landmark for travellers on State Highway 1. The station no longer generates electricity.
Day to day, Meremere is a small riverside town rather than a large service centre. Civic life clusters along Heather Green Avenue, where the school, the library and the community hall sit close together. Motorsport brings outside visitors: a drag strip south of the town opened in 1973, and Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is further south beside the highway.
North of the houses, the Whangamarino wetlands are managed by the Department of Conservation. The area was listed as a Ramsar site in 1989, and it is the site of the first National Wetland Trail established in New Zealand. The wetlands, the river and the redoubt are the reasons most visitors stop.
History and Heritage
The Waikato campaign of 1863 to 1864 was the major campaign of the New Zealand Wars. Over 12,000 British and colonial troops invaded the Waikato, where King Tāwhiao and his supporters were centred. The position at Meremere was intended to stop that advance into the Waikato heartland. At its peak, perhaps a thousand men were on hand.
On 31 October 1863, General Cameron sent 600 men of the 40th and 65th regiments upriver on the Pioneer, the Avon and four barges. They landed about 10 kilometres upstream, aiming to cut Meremere off from a supporting position at Pukekawā on the other side of the river.
Outflanked, the defenders withdrew to the east that evening and regrouped at Rangiriri. British troops occupied the abandoned position the next day, and later built a redoubt whose earthworks are still visible.
Meremere Redoubt is one of 22 earthwork forts built between Auckland and Pirongia, a distance of 110 kilometres. Many sites from the campaign have been damaged or lost. This one is well preserved. The Department of Conservation maintains the ditches and banks, and interpretation panels tell the story on site.
The hill has commanding views of the surrounding country and the Waikato River, and it is possible to catch a glimpse of Whangamarino Redoubt to the north, where colonial artillery fired on the original Māori position.
Getting Around
The practical way in is by car. The Waikato Expressway runs past the town and is the four-lane state highway linking Auckland and Hamilton. From Pukekohe, head south on the expressway. Once in the town, Heather Green Avenue is the street for the school, library and hall.
The same highway makes longer trips simple. Huntly is about 30 kilometres to the south. Waikato District Council notes that the east coast at Miranda and the west coast at Port Waikato are each within about 30 minutes’ drive.
The expressway is also why commuting north toward Pukekohe and Auckland, or south toward Hamilton, is a normal part of life here.
Community and the Outdoors
Meremere Library, at 17 Heather Green Avenue, and Meremere Hall, at 21 Heather Green Avenue, are the main community buildings. The hall is where the Meremere Community Committee meets. Meremere School, on the same avenue, is a co-educational state school. It became a full primary in 2019, adding Years 7 and 8 to the younger year levels.
For a short outdoor stop, Meremere Redoubt is the standout. It is an easily accessible heritage site rather than a long track, with views across the Waikato River. The Whangamarino wetlands begin north of the town and are the place for the National Wetland Trail.
Meremere Dragway, to the south, is the local motorsport landmark and hosts events through the year, including drag meetings that draw competitors and spectators from well outside the district.
Where to Learn More
Waikato District Council: Meremere: Council overview of the town, the expressway, the wetlands and local motorsport.
Department of Conservation: Meremere Redoubt: What the redoubt is, how it fits the Waikato campaign, and what visitors can see.
NZ History: Meremere from Whangamarino Redoubt: Account of the October 1863 outflanking of the Kīngitanga position, with the contemporary sketch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Meremere part of Pukekohe?
No. Meremere is a town in the Waikato District, south of Pukekohe. It is near Pukekohe, but it is not part of Auckland or of Pukekohe.
How do you get to Meremere?
By car on the Waikato Expressway, which runs past the town between Auckland and Hamilton. From Pukekohe, the drive is south along the expressway.
What is Meremere known for?
Fighting in the New Zealand Wars in 1863, the former coal-fired power station, and motorsport at Meremere Dragway. The Whangamarino wetlands lie to the north.
Can you visit Meremere Redoubt?
Yes. The Department of Conservation maintains the earthworks and interpretation panels. The site is easily accessible and has views over the Waikato River, with a possible glimpse of Whangamarino Redoubt to the north.
Does the Meremere power station still generate electricity?
No. The coal-burning thermal station operated from 1958 until 1991. The associated workers’ village remains, and the former station is still a landmark beside the highway.
Is there a school in Meremere?
Yes. Meremere School is a co-educational state full primary on Heather Green Avenue, teaching Years 1 to 8. It added Years 7 and 8 in 2019.
What is the link with the Whangamarino wetlands?
The wetlands lie north of the town. They are a Ramsar site, listed in 1989, and are managed by the Department of Conservation. They include the first National Wetland Trail established in New Zealand.
Where is the drag strip?
Meremere Dragway is south of the town and has hosted drag racing since 1973. Hampton Downs Motorsport Park is further south beside State Highway 1. Both draw motorsport crowds to the area.
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Explore Pukekohe only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Meremere is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.