17 Facts About Waiuku

Waiuku is a rural town in the Auckland Region in the North Island of New Zealand.

Maori name Waiuku comes from a legend that two prominent brothers, Tamakae and Tamakou, vied for the hand of a beautiful high-ranking Waikato chieftainess.

Waiuku was working in the kumara gardens and had to be washed in the wai and uku at the stream that flows into the Manukau Harbour just behind the Waiuku Museum, before he was able to meet her.

Waiuku was the site of an important portage called Te Pai o Kaiwaka, between the Manukau Harbour and the Waikato River, avoiding the dangerous sandbar at the Manukau Heads.

Waiuku came into existence as a port in about 1843, on the then important trade route between Auckland and the agricultural area of the Waikato.

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Waiuku was marked out by the Government as a town in 1851.

Waiuku eventually increased his holdings there to about 2500 acres, and bought land at Orua Bay.

Waiuku's wife was Margaret Isabella Haldane, sister of Lord Haldane, and their eldest son was George Makgill who spent most of his adult life in Scotland, becoming 11th Baronet of Makgill on his father's death.

Waiuku was one of the country's first district health officers, at a time when central government took on greater responsibility for public health.

Waiuku was to play an important role during the 1918 influenza pandemic and its aftermath, notably as 'the chief architect' of 'the most useful legacy of the 1918 influenza pandemic': the 1920 Health Act.

Waiuku later grew as a farming centre under road board administration, and in 1914 became a town district.

Waiuku continues to be a major employer in and influence on the town.

Waiuku has two marae affiliated with the Waikato Tainui hapu of Te Akitai, Ngati Paretaua and Ngati Te Ata: Reretewhioi Marae and its Arohanui meeting house, and Tahuna Marae and its Teuwira meeting house.

Waiuku has a local government just like other suburbs of Auckland at that time.

The nearby Waiuku Museum has colonial era memorabilia, Maori artifacts, old sailing boats and historic photographs.

Waiuku has a pistol club with a ranges, and one of New Zealand's largest airsoft clubs.

Waiuku College is a secondary school with a roll of 884.