Mauku is a locality located 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pukekohe in New Zealand.[1]

Mauku
An illustration of St Bride's Church in 1863 showing the stockade and tents surrounding the church
An illustration of St Bride's Church in 1863 showing the stockade and tents surrounding the church
Map
Coordinates: 37°12′07″S 174°48′58″E / 37.202°S 174.816°E / -37.202; 174.816
CountryNew Zealand
RegionAuckland Region
WardFranklin ward
BoardFranklin Local Board
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityAuckland Council

History

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Mauku was the first settlement in the Franklin area west of Pukekohe. It was settled c.1854,[2] at the mouth of a stream that led into the Manukau Harbour as this provided access to Onehunga. With the development of roads and the forests cleared the settlement moved inland.[3] It was originally the most important settlement in the area. Pukekohe and Patumahoe did not have European settlement and Waiuku had only a few settlers.[4]

Mauku was the first settlement in the Franklin area to have a church. St Bride's Church was opened on the 14th, July, 1861.[5]: 35 

In July 1863 the Invasion of the Waikato began and settlers in Mauku became worried about an attack from hostile Māori. The women and children of Mauku evacuated to Auckland and a stockade was constructed around St Bride's to serve as a military outpost. Up to 2,000 men were based at the church at one point.[6] Mauku was also the base of the Forest Rangers during the war.[7]

The Mauku Historical Cemetery is located 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) north of the settlement.[8]

Government

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Mauku was originally governed by the Mauku Road District Board before amalgamating with Franklin County in 1913.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Place name detail: 29318". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board.
  2. ^ Limbrick, Warren (April 2011). "Saint Bride's Church, Mauku: A Frontier Church in the Midst of Conflict" (PDF). Anglican Historical Society newsletter (46). The Anglican Historical Society of New Zealand.
  3. ^ Knight, Cyril Roy (1972). The Selwyn churches of Auckland. Reed. p. 68–70.
  4. ^ Lownsborough, Frederic John (1961). A history of St. Bride's Church, Mauku, 1861-1961. Institute Printing & Publishing Society. p. 4,7.
  5. ^ Derbyshire, Noel William (2016). Serving the Community: a history of the Pukekohe Anglican Parish. Wily Publications. ISBN 978-1-927167-30-4.
  6. ^ "St Bride's Church (Anglican)". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand.
  7. ^ Limbrick, Warren (April 2011). "Saint Bride's Church, Mauku: A Frontier Church in the Midst of Conflict" (PDF). Anglican Historical Society newsletter (46). The Anglican Historical Society of New Zealand.
  8. ^ "Mauku NZ Wars memorial". New Zealand History. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  9. ^ The Heritage Studio (July 2017). Franklin County Council Chambers (Former) (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council.