Maketu

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Maketu is a small village in the region Bay of Plenty New Zealand. It lies just off the State Highway 2 at the Bay of Plenty on a headland west of the 64 high Town Point. To the north lies the Maketu estuary - where once the Kaituna River flows into the sea. To the south lies the estuary Wahi, a former estuary. The town's name is sometimes abbreviated informally as MK2. Maketu is located about 15 km northeast of Te Puke.

The economy is dependent on fishing, livestock and maize cultivation. In addition, Maketu is a seaside resort on the Pacific coast.

History

It is in the tradition of Māori Te Arawa canoes of the landfall and possibly the oldest settlement in the region. Maketu is after an old plantation of sweet potatoes in Hawaiki, the mythical origin of the Māori named.

The Te Arawa populated the area from the 14th century and built a fort here, Pukemaire Pā.

As one of the first Europeans settled in 1930, the Dane Hands Felk, the Philip Tapsell called himself here with a trading post for flax. A first mission station was built in 1842 by the Anglican Thomas Chapman, 1868 at the same location today's St. Thomas Church built.

The Māori of the region talked friendly relations with the Europeans, delivered by the Kaurilagerstätten the Kauri resin region and chatted with some small ships connections to Auckland and the East Coast.

Thus, the Te Arawa were to march against efforts of other tribes of the east coast, troops in support of the Māori King Movement in the Waikato region by their country. Members of the tribe were concentrated in Maketu, the British supported them by supplying material for munitions production, eventually occupied in April the place and tipped the Pā with guns. After a few Vorhutgefechten the main power of the East Coast Maori arrived and encamped on a Hühel east of the village. The British expelled them with the help of gunboats "Falcon " and " Sandfly ". The Te Arawa pursued the fugitives by Matata, where they settle made ​​many of the opponents.

Maketu, still home to predominantly of Māori, in the resort, two meeting houses are ( Marae ).