Last updated July 2026
Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church stands at 95 Runciman Road, Pukekohe East, approximately 5 kilometres north-west of Pukekohe township. Completed and opened in April 1863, the modest timber church quickly became the centre of the young settler community before serving as a defensive position during the New Zealand Wars later that year. Original bullet holes from the September 1863 engagement remain visible in the ceiling, and the site includes a cemetery with graves of both settlers and six Māori who died in the battle. The building is listed on the Heritage New Zealand register and is cared for by the Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society.
Practical Information
| Address | 95 Runciman Road, Pukekohe East |
| Distance from Pukekohe | Approximately 5 kilometres north-west |
| Opened | April 1863 |
| Heritage listing | Heritage New Zealand Category 2 (List no. 483) |
| Maintained by | Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society |
| Access | Exterior and grounds viewable from the road; interior access arranged through the Preservation Society |
About the Church
Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church is constructed from locally sourced native timbers including rimu and tōtara. It is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the Pukekohe district and one of the earliest Presbyterian churches erected in South Auckland. The simple weatherboard structure measures roughly 9 metres by 4.6 metres excluding the porch and belfry, and it remains in largely original condition with only minor later alterations.
The church occupies a prominent position on the rim of the Pukekohe East tuff ring and crater. Its rural setting and modest scale reflect the rapid establishment of religious and community institutions by early European settlers in the Franklin area during the early 1860s.
The 1863 Battle
On 13 and 14 September 1863, during the Invasion of the Waikato, a Māori taua of approximately 200 men from Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Pou attacked the Pukekohe East settlement. Local settlers and militia fortified the church with a half-completed log stockade and defended the position until relieved by British troops. Six Māori died in the engagement and are buried in the churchyard. Bullet holes from the fighting remain visible in the church ceiling today.
The site holds significance to tangata whenua, including Ngāti Pou, Ngāti Tamaoho and Ngāti Maniapoto, as both a battle site and a burial place. A commemorative stone in the cemetery acknowledges the Māori who died.
Heritage Significance
Heritage New Zealand recognises the church for its historic, architectural and cultural values. It is one of a small number of New Zealand Wars battle sites within the Auckland region that retains direct physical evidence of the conflict. The combination of its early colonial construction, battlefield role and associations with tangata whenua makes the place unusual in the region.
Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society
The Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society maintains the building and grounds. Regular services ceased in 1994, after which the society took responsibility for preservation and interpretation. The exterior and cemetery are accessible year-round from Runciman Road, while interior visits are arranged through the society.
What Visitors Often Say
Visitors interested in New Zealand history note that the surviving bullet holes provide a direct and tangible connection to the 1863 events that interpretive material alone cannot match. Many appreciate the quiet rural setting that helps convey the isolation experienced by the early settler community.
Heritage enthusiasts describe the church as a compact yet powerful reminder of the New Zealand Wars, praising the preservation efforts that keep the building and its story accessible while respecting its solemn associations.
Where to Learn More
Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society: official site with history, visiting details and contact information.
Heritage New Zealand: official listing entry with statement of significance for the church and grounds.
NZ History: overview of the 1863 engagement and the memorial at the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church?
The church is at 95 Runciman Road, Pukekohe East, approximately 5 kilometres north-west of Pukekohe township.
Can visitors enter the church?
The exterior and grounds are viewable from the road year-round. Interior access is arranged through the Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society.
Are the bullet holes still visible?
Yes, original bullet holes from the 1863 battle remain visible in the church ceiling.
What is the heritage status of the church?
It is listed as a Category 2 historic place on the Heritage New Zealand register (List no. 483).
What happened at the church in 1863?
In September 1863 the church was fortified and defended during an attack by a Māori taua. Six Māori died and are buried in the churchyard. Bullet holes from the fighting survive in the ceiling.
Who looks after the church today?
The Pukekohe East Church Preservation Society maintains the building and facilitates public access and interpretation.
Is the church still used for services?
Regular services ceased in 1994. The cemetery continues to be used for burials.
Which iwi have connections to the site?
The church and churchyard hold significance for Ngāti Pou, Ngāti Tamaoho and Ngāti Maniapoto as a battle site and burial place.
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