Waipā Stories capture the history of our district.
They celebrate the people, places and events that have shaped Waipā over the years and made it what it is today.
Rahapa Te Hauata
Rahapa Te Hauata, Ngāti Apakura, pictured here holding a patu paroa whalebone club and wearing Victorian style dress. This photograph is from an original Tin-type and would have been taken in Rangiaowhia prior to 1864 when the area was prosperous. We’re not sure of...
Aroha, Prosperity and Invasion
Rangiaowhia, a small journey east of Te Awamutu, was a thriving and productive village until 1864. From the 1830’s Māori and invited European settlers worked collaboratively to develop this into one of the region’s most important agricultural areas. One of the most...
WALTER HARSANT 1811—1897
An outstanding personality in the history of Te Awamutu and Raglan districts was Doctor Walter Harsant. He was Government factotum for these districts from 1854 to 1878. Let us turn back and learn something of this Doctor’s background. He was born at Haverland,...
A SALUTE TO THE LADIES
A Story of the Wives of the Waikato Missionaries By Joyce Neill. This is a tribute to the first European Ladies to make their homes in the Waikato. Most Church histories show the wives of the men who served them, as just a shadow behind their man; a few Maiden names...
THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST IN KIHIKIHI.
In the late 1830’s the KihiKihi area was served by Father Pezant S.M. from the flourishing “Mission of the Holy Angels” at Rangiaohia the chief village of the Waikato District and it is on record that Bishop Pompellier confirmed 146 people there in 1844 and that...
THE PUNIU BRIDGE AND MISSION LANDS
Waikato Argus, 3.12.00. The Hon. Minister for Public Works (Mr. Hall-Jones) arrived at Te Awamutu yesterday afternoon by special train from Poro-o-tarao, having come the same day by road from Maramataha to the Tunnel….. On the arrival of the Ministerial party at Te...
Te Hokioi e Rere Atu Na! The Hokioi Printing Press
Te Hokioi was part of the printed propaganda battle that preceded, and prompted, the Waikato wars of the 1860s.
WHAT A FIND!
A toothpaste pot lid from the 1880s.
Te Awamutu Railway Tea Rooms
Pamela Langmuir recalls helping her grandparents at the Railway Tearooms as an 8 year old in 1938.
Queen Victoria Lithograph
An exchange of gifts between Queen Victoria and the people of Rangiaowhia.
Waipa Streets
Waipa history through the names of our streets.
Beautiful Maungatautari
Carly Daniels shares a story about Maungatautari.
Constable Williamson
Ken Williamson recalls his father’s city posting in the 1920s.
Lake Karapiro
Valerie McMillan grew up in Karapiro where her father worked on constructing the dam. She remembers when the waters rose over their house.
Mr and Mrs Smale
Jan Kilham tells the story of Florence and Charley Smale of Horahora.
The Finn Brothers
Tim and Neil Finn’s early life in Te Awamutu.
Te Kooti’s local connection
A kaitaka ngore that belonged to Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki.
Early Te Awamutu
The story of Te Awamutu’s beginnings.