Pōkeno


Pōkeno is a small town in the Waikato District of the Waikato region in New Zealand, southeast of Auckland, from Tuakau and from Mercer. State Highway 1 originally ran through the town, but the upgrading of the highway in 1992 to expressway standards mean that the town has been bypassed.

History

Pōkeno was an important site during the New Zealand Wars of the 19th century, being the site of the Queen's Redoubt, a major colonial military headquarters. The redoubt was an important southern fortification on the Great South Road, built by Governor George Edward Grey to transport troops for the Invasion of the Waikato.
The Pokeno Railway Station on the Waikato section of the North Island Main Trunk line was opened in 1875, but was closed in 1973 to passengers and in 1980 to goods. Work on the proposed Paeroa–Pokeno Line commenced in 1938 and whilst approximately 13 km of earthworks were completed at each end, the proposal was halted due to World War 2 and was not resumed following the war and was abandoned.
Construction of a large Yashili dairy factory started in 2013, but opening was delayed in 2015.

Marae

The local Mangatangi Marae and Marae Kirikiri meeting house is a traditional meeting ground of Ngāti Tamaoho and the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāi Tai and Ngāti Koheriki.

Education

Pokeno School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of.

In popular culture