Waiuku

A long established town, Waiuku, population about 10,000 and growing fast, is an interesting place for a daytrip from Hamilton or Auckland.

It owes its existence to its position on the Waiuku River, an estuarine extension of the Manakau Harbour. A port here in the 1840s lead to the establishment of a town with European settlers in 1851. Before that it was on the portage route used by Maoris between the Manakau Harbour and the Waikato River via the Awaroa River. The Wesley Methodist Church is on a hill previously the site of a wooden defensive blockhouse built during the 1863 land war. It was a vantage point for observation of the movements of people and canoes over the portage. In the centre of the town is the Kentish Hotel (1853).

This has included among its guests Sir George Grey and Prime Ministers Richard John Seddon, Sir Joseph Ward and William Massey. It has New Zealand's oldest licence to sell alcoholic beverages. On the Tamakae Reserve beside the Waiuku Estuary the Waiuku museum offers a pioneer experience with permanent and changing displays of Maori and early colonial artifacts reflecting the area’s maritime and agricultural past. The Courthouse which is of historic interest now serves as the town's Search and Rescue base. There is also a collection of historic buildings. The Information Centre is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Ask here for an heritage trail pamphlet. In recent years Reset Urban Design has worked with the Auckland Council to reorient the town towards the river.