Maungakaramea

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Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea (Northland)
Maungakaramea
Maungakaramea
Coordinates: 35°50′38″S 174°12′15″E / -35.84389, 174.20417
Country New Zealand
Region Northland Region
District Whangarei District

Maungakaramea is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Whangarei is to the northeast.[1][2] Maungakaramea forms part of the Bream Bay Ward of the Whangarei District Council.

Contents

[edit] History

The name Maungakaramea was given to the area by the Maori. There are two interpretations of the meaning of the name, one is that "Karamea" means Native Tree, hence the "Karamea tree mountain", the other is that Karamea is a coloured clay of a reddish type used for war paint on the face and body. A safe interpretation is "Red Ochre Mountain".

The area from Whangarei to Waipu, Waihonga and Tangihua, was taken from Ngaitahuhu by a Ngapuhi chief, Te Ponaharakeke, who joined with Te Ngarokiteuru to drive all the Ngaitahuhu out in the mid 1700's.

The first record of a white man (pakeha) in the Maungakaramea area was in 1820 when the Reverend Samuel Marsden encountered a Maori tribe whilst travelling overland via the Kaipara Harbour.

The Maungakaramea blocks were purchased by the government in 1855.

The first Pakeha landowners appear to have been Ebenezer Cater, H. G. James and Thomas Child who all purchased land in Maungakaramea prior to 1859.

Amongst the early settlers were two brothers, Henry Spear Wilson and Daniel Cook Wilson.[3]

[edit] Notable people

  • Jenny McDonald, hockey player.[4]

[edit] Education

Maungakaramea School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 9 and a roll of 103.[5] The school celebrated its 125th reunion in 2000.[6]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books, map 7. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8. 
  2. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton, map 27. ISBN 1-877333-20-4. 
  3. ^ Pickmere, Nancy Preece (1986). Whangarei: The Founding Years, p 66. 
  4. ^ "Northland - Leisure and sports". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 
  5. ^ Te Kete Ipurangi - Maungakaramea School. Ministry of Education.
  6. ^ "Maungakaramea School" (20 March 2000). Education Gazette New Zealand 79 (5). 
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