Kawhia History
Kawhia history is as exciting and romantic as any great novel could describe. From the time of the arrival
of the Great waka Tainui over 750 years ago and the arrival of the Europeans, just over 150 years ago.
Since the arrival of the Maori, Kawhia harbour has been the witness to a multitude of drama's and changes.
Wars, battles, tragedies and passionate romance are etched in time and imprinted on the psyche and wild landscapes of Kawhia.
It is not possible to recall such ancient history, but I will place links to strories to get maybe an inkling of some of it's unique past.
Please search the following links:
Giant Kawhia Penguin fossils discovered
The arrival of the Tainui waka
Te Rauparaha: Warrior Chief of the Ngati toa tribe of the Kawhia district.
Wesleyan Mission in Kawhia/Aotea
Kawhia's History in its Street Names
The centreal area of Kawhia comprises the original 40 to 50 acres town block that the Government bought in 1880 - not from the original Maori owners, but from a European who claimed ownership in payment of money owed by another European.
You can read the history of Kawhia in its street names.
The main street is Jervois Street, named for Sir William Jervois, appointed Governor of NZ in 1882, when he visited Kawhia. He was very popular among the colonists. Jervois was born on the Isle of Wight and died in a horse carriage accident in 1897.
From Jervois Street runs Tainui Street, named for the Tainui waka, the ocean-going canoe that brought the ancestors of the Tainui people to Kawhia in the 14th century. Tainui means "big tide".
Travelling up Tainui Street you pass Charleton Street, named for John Charleton, one of the early European settlers who claimed ownership of this Kawhia township block.
Next comes Fairchild Street, named after John Fairchild who was famous for two things. He was master of the "Hinemoa" which was used to set up the Kawhia Harbour beacons in 1883. And he claimed the Kawhia town block from John Charleton Junior, in settlement of a debt. The Government eventually bought the block, in 1880, from either Fairchild or the Charleton estate.
Next is Cowell Street, named after yet another "John" - John Cowell, a flax and firearms trader who originally claimed the Kawhia town block after paying two Kawhia chiefs for it. He paid them in powder, muskets, blankets, clothing, tobacco, pipes and tools. Cowell sold the block to Charleton, to settle a debt, for around $100 in today's money.
On the northern side of the town block is Pouewe Street. This was the original name of the Maori settlement in this area, Pouewe township, and the Pouewe Stream. The name refers to a significant landmark. It is often wrongly spelled "powewe" which means a dog yelping at night.
Kawhia Timeline
| 950 | Kupe visits Kawhia in "Matahorua" | |
| 1350 | Hoturoa brings "Tainui" to Kawhia | |
| 1768 | Te Rauparaha born near Lake Parangi | |
| 1770 | James Cook passes Kawhia in "Endeavour, names Albatross Point and Gannet Island | |
| 1825 | Capt Amos Kent visits Kawhia for cargo of flax, later opens first trading post in Kawhia | |
| 1834 | Rev William Woon first resident missionary | |
| 1844 | First Auckland-Wellington overland mail service includes Kawhia | |
| 1863 | Waikato land wars begin, European settlement restricted in Kawhia as part of King Country | |
| 1870 |
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| 1876 | Kawhia becomes a county | |
| 1880 | Government buys 40 acres to survey as Kawhia township | |
| 1883 | Armed Constabulary arrive to supervise harbour reopening after end of land wars | |
| 1884 | 61 Kawhia town sections auctioned in Auckland | |
| 1895 | Kawhia Native School opens | |
| 1900 | Coach service starts from Pirongia to Oparau | |
| 1901 | Kawhia Wharf opens, Northern Steamship Co service starts from Auckland | |
| 1904 | Congregational Church opens in Pouewe St | |
| 1905 | Kawhia County Council formed | |
| 1908 | Courthouse opens, Tainui Street | |
| 1910 | Five racing whaleboats purchased for harbour competition | |
| 1912 | Bank of NZ opens, Jervois Street | |
| 1914 | Kawhia telephone exchange opens with 27 subscribers | |
| 1920 | First aircraft visits Kawhia | |
| 1927 | Kawhia Golf Course opened | |
| 1930 | St Peter's Church, Kawhia, opened by Bishop Liston | |
| 1934 | King Koroki lays foundation stone for Methodist Church | |
| 1947 | Electric power turned on in Kawhia | |
| 1956 | Kawhia County Council merges with Otorohanga District Council | |
| 1957 | Kawhia Volunteer Fire Brigade formed | |
| 1959 | New state highway to Kawhia opened | |
| 1967 | New Kawhia Wharf opened | |
| 1973 | $100,000 town water supply scheme approved | |
| 1985 | Kawhia included in Te Awamutu free-calling zone | |
| 1990 | Kawhia Regional Museum Gallery opens in old County Council building Maxine Andrew lands first marlin weighed in Kawhia |
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| 1997 | Owners buy Crown share in Tainui-Kawhia forest for $9 million, contract first cutting rights to Rayonier | |
| 1998 | Kawhia Pontoon launched | |
| 2003 | The heritage vessel, The Lady Kawhia, previously The Marie 2, an ex-blue boat ferry from Auckland, arrives in Kawhia to start heritage cruises. |