Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rangiaowhia
Before the Waikato invasion, Rangiaowhia (5km east of Te Awamutu on Rangiaowhia
Rd; ask at the i-SITE for directions) was a thriving Maori farming town, exporting
wheat, maize, potatoes and fruit to as far afield as Australia. It was home to thousands of
inhabitants, two churches, a flour mill and a racecourse, and was the perfect model of
what NZ under the Maori version of the Treaty of Waitangi had outlined for NZ - two
sovereign peoples interacting to mutual advantage.
In February 1864 the settlement was left undefended while King Tawhiao's warriors
held fortified positions further north. In a key tactical move, General Cameron out-
flanked them and took the town, killing women, children and the elderly. This was a
turning point in the campaign, demoralising the Maori and drawing the warriors out of
their near-impregnable
pa
fortifications.
Sadly, all that remains of the town is the cute 1854 Anglican
St Paul's Church
(
07-871 5568; Rangiaowhia Rd; services 9am 1st & 3rd Sun of month)
and the Catholic mis-
sion's
cemetery
, standing in the midst of rich farming land - confiscated from the Maori
and distributed to colonial soldiers.
The war ended further south at
Orakau
, where a roadside obelisk marks the site where
300 Maori, led by Rewi Maniapoto, repulsed three days of attacks against an unfinished
pa
by 1500 troops, before breaking out and retreating to what is now known as the King
Country (losing 70 warriors).
WORTH A TRIP
SANCTUARY MOUNTAIN MAUNGATAUTARI
Can a landlocked volcano become an island paradise? Inspired by the success of
pest eradication and native-species reintroduction in the Hauraki Gulf, a commu-
nity trust has erected 47km of pest-proof fencing around the triple peaks of
Maungatautari (797m) to create the impressive
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
(
www.sanctuarymountain.co.nz
;
adult/child $15/6)
. This atoll of rainforest dominates the
skyline between Te Awamutu and Karapiro and is now home to its first kiwi chicks
in 100 years. The main entrance is at the visitor centre on the sanctuary's southern
side.
Out in the Styx
( 07-872 4505;
www.styx.co.nz
;
2117 Arapuni Rd, Pukeatua; dm/s/d $95/130/
260)
is near the south end of the Maungatautari guided day- and night-walk options.
The three stylishly furnished themed rooms (Polynesian, African or Maori) are es-
pecially nice, plus there are bunk rooms and a spa for soothing weary legs. Prices
