To the 'Hill of Kohekohe'
JANUARY 16th 2014
Manukau - Pukekohe
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| Google Map with Pukekohe - click on images to enlarge. |
Dear Diary,
In the present I am trying to work out what activities to add to my schooling year. Maybe piano? It would be good to try a new sport too. School has started off well, my teacher seems pretty cool, my school is awesome. I have to do forty minutes of homework a night now that I'm in Year 8! I don't mind the reading part, that's okay. I've been powering through the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore - they were published a while ago now, it's an oldie but a goodie. It seems like a lifetime ago to be pulling out my diary to write this for you but I gave you my word that I was going to complete this mission! So here is what I found out about a gorgeous town called 'Pukekohe' or 'puke = hill' + 'kohekohe the tree'. Now cast your mind back to the end of January...
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| This image is taken from a really useful credible little fact file on Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |
I said goodbye to the Manukau team, I did a quick check (Wikipedia) online discovering that Manukau had meant 'the place of the wading birds' (guess that figures 'manu = bird') although other histories say that it refers to 'Manuka' being the type of rakau used to mark a boundary to claim the area by a Maori chief. I wonder? And you'll remember Karon is the Children's and Youth Librarian and Mack is the Pasifika liaison for the community.
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| From Manukau to Pukekohe - thanks Google Maps we'd be lost without you! |
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| Isn't that the coolest sign ever! Tumeke! |
We got back onto the Southern Motorway and not long after, (we just about got to the end of my CD, but not quite...) we were there in Pukekohe trying to locate the library. We probably stuck out a bit as 'out of towner's' - our car is looking pretty dirty after all of its travels! My supervisor stopped by a man out running, we rolled down the window and asked. He said we needed the 'Franklin Centre'.
Before Auckland became the 'SUPER CITY' that it is now, where we pool our resources for the good of the greater area, Pukekohe and it's neighbours were known as Franklin.
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| Plenty of fun events happening at Pukekohe Library! Sometimes it does tickle though! |
I could see the building and raced in to find Wendy and Debra my contacts for this tour. Wendy is the friendly children's and youth librarian, Debra is her trusty library assistant. In fact, I have to thank Debra because it was her cool idea for me to get out and take this journey in the first place and it has been soooooooo amazing!
Of course when I met the ladies I had to make a decision about which of my Pasifika greetings I was going to use!
Did you find all of these greetings too?
Talofa lava - Samoan
Kia orana - Cook Islands Maori
Malo e lelei - Tongan
Fakaalofa lahi atu - Nuiean
Bula vinaka - Fijian
Namaste - Fijian Indian
Malo ni - Tokalauan
Halo ola keta - Papua New Guinea
Mauri - Kiribati
Fakatalofa atu - Tuvalu
The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs page helped me there!
www.mpia.govt.nz/pacific-languages.
'Pukekohe Library is an inviting place for kids'. That's what Wendy told my supervisor on the phone - now I know that for sure! There's a nice bright children's area and all of the staff are friendly and helpful.
That's one thing I've learnt on my tour around Auckland all of the staff on the Auckland Libraries team from Wellsford down, all pride themselves on offering us a really good service.
Even when we don't really know what we want! They always have something useful to offer or suggest, a new series or a good book to try!
As with my other local visits, Debra planned an exciting day out! She took me horse riding to start with. I was a bit nervous as I haven't been on a horse before.
Lots of children are into their equestrian sports out here!
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| I hope my legs are going to be long enough! |
I popped in to Auckland Libraries website catalogue to see what I could find for my 'horsie' mates. Using the keyword 'horse series', then narrowing down my search or 'refining', I clicked on the list on the right hand selection: 'children' (I could have added 'teen', instead) then I moved to the lower end of the list and clicked on 'last 2 years'. That showed me only the recent publications.
Here are two that looked alright to try: the 'Joe' series by Victoria Eveleigh and 'There must be horses' by Diana Kimpton, which also talks about adoption.
See how easy it is to find exactly what you want? Librarians are always happy to help you learn how to request books.
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| You can find these titles on the Auckland Libraries online catalogue |
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| Caring for a horse is such a big job! Picking up poo, brushing down your buddy, cleaning out hooves, worming, vets...feed. Getting a horse is a decision that you can't take lightly. |
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| Sssh! Don't tell them I'm a townie! I'm too young to die! |
It seems Pukekohe wasn't always a really peaceful place. When the settlers first moved in there were a lot of extremely upset Maori. Not unlike the birth of Blockhouse Bay and other areas in Auckland, history tells us that a lot of iwi were displaced and driven back down into the Waikato. If you want to know more about this you could try searching the key words, 'New Zealand Wars' or 'Kingitanga Movement'.
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| Pukekohe Pioneer Cottage |
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| Do I look good in black and white? I have been transported back in time... |
Pukekohe's Pioneer Cottage
Pukekohe's Pioneer Cottage, opened in October 1965, now stands as a memorial to the pioneers of Pukekohe. The cottage was originally built by John Martyn near the Great South Road at Ramarama in 1859. It is traditional in design with four rooms off a central passage: a kitchen with open fireplace, a sitting room and two bedrooms. Furnished in colonial style, the cottage has many items of the pioneering period on display.
Collection Type
Historic Site, History, Military
Courtesy of www.nzmuseums.co.nz Franklin Historical Society
Adding cultural diversity to the Pukekohe region are the longstanding community members of Indian descent. Venkat Raman published an online article in 'Indian Newslink', November 2011 to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Pukekohe Indian Association Incorporated. My supervisor remembers the distinctive 'Bhana Brothers' label on their family's spuds as a child! Wow they must've been around for a while...
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| The ladies of the Pukekohe Indian Association (Inc) |
Speaking of vegetables here is a piece from the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers Association:
They tell me onions are a staple crop out here, sorry guys, more potatoes!
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| en.wikipedia.org |
If you bring Pukekohe up in conversation, it doesn't take too long for people to mention recent NZ movie Mt Zion. Russell Baillie reviewed PG rated Mt Zion in the NZ Herald, February 6th 2013. You can see his interview with the cast at the opening including their antics on how they like to cook their potatoes! With exception to producer Quinton Hita who prefers kumara!
www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10863634
"Appropriately for a movie which spends a fair bit of time in the potato fields of Pukekohe, Mt Zion is a bit of a mash-up. It's a family saga, a get-ahead-in-showbiz story, a late 70s time capsule and a musical tribute too - just as Boy had a thing for Michael Jackson, Mt Zion is for the love of Bob Marley."
"It's set in 1979 when Marley and the Wailers came to Western Springs. Turei wants his band to enter the competition for the support slot. But the paddocks on the southside of the Bombays aren't easily escaped, especially when your dad is the dutiful potato-picking gang boss ordering double shifts and your mum would rather you use your vocal talents welcoming dignitaries down at the local marae."
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| A scene from Mt Zion from www.scoop.co.nz |
If you are a petrol head like me, you'll love the next places Debra took me to visit!
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| Here I am, chilling with Hamish at the remote control car track. Kei te pai! |
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| Murph's Law: Greg Murphy: the autobiography with Paul Owen. (One for the dad's). |
The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing Ardmore (an aerodrome) as the host circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Annually for several years, the mainly European based Grand Prix drivers such asStirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart, would head downunder for a relaxed Tasman Series during the European winter.
For many years Pukekohe was the venue for New Zealand's premier production car race, the Benson and Hedges 500 mile race (later 1000 km) featuring drivers such as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson and Jim Richards. In 1996 theNew Zealand Mobil Sprints held one round in Pukekohe. Pukekohe Park Raceway also held an annual round of the popular Australian V8 Supercar race from 2001 to 2007. However, the New Zealand round moved to Hamilton Street Circuit in 2008. On the 5th July 2012, it was announced that V8 Supercars would return to the circuit in 2013 as part of a 5 year deal with the circuit operators.
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| Find upcoming events at the Pukekohe Park Raceway on their website www.countiesracing.co.nz |
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| I can't wait to come back and watch some real racing! |
Your challenges should you choose to accept them:
Find an awesome beach on the West Coast out from Waiuku that starts with 'K'
Find 10 different uses for a potato! Eating or otherwise! Have fun!
Do you reckon I could get away with wearing my kilt in Waiuku?
Ka kite ano! I hope you've enjoyed learning some more about Pukekohe.
Matatoa - Little Dude Adventurer - Out.
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