Waikato, known for its rich, fertile farmland, was the scene of significant battles during the Land Wars of the mid nineteenth century.  It is here that early missionary activity encouraged the Maori to adopt Pakeha farming methods. Trade between the two groups initially flourished, but as Pakeha settler numbers increased, Maori became increasingly suspicious of their intentions.

The story of the Land Wars in the Waikato is closely related to the King movement, the belief that the Maori King posed a subversive challenge to Queen Victoria.

New Zealand history is abundant in the Coromandel Peninsula due to its gold mining, logging and gum digging past. The region has very little flat land and is covered in dense forest fringed with beautiful beaches.

When Captain Cook visited its waters in 1769 to observe the transit of Mercury, the region was already well populated and traces of pre-European settlement can still be found. The Coromandel’s extensive kauri forests were exploited for logs from the early nineteenth until well into the twentieth century. Gold was also discovered here.

Many reminders and relics of early interaction between Maori and Pakeha, as well as the economic vibrancy Waikato and Coromandel experienced, can be seen in the buildings, museums and sites that still exist today.

Find out more about the history of the Waikato region:

Te Ara

Waikato Confederation

Wikipedia

The Waikato

"Must-do" checklist for the Waikato and Coromandel regions

These regions have much to offer visitors

Driving River Creek Railway and Potteries, Coromandel

Rapaura Watergardens, Thames

Waipa River Delta Cruises, Hamilton

Te Aroha Mineral Spa, Te Aroha