Maungakawa

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources . Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources.
Find sources: "Maungakawa" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Te Waikato Sanatorium at Maungakawa, view of the main building circa 1910–1930

Maungakawa is located in the Waipa District, in the present day Te Miro settlement, northeast of the town of Cambridge, New Zealand. It was once the meeting place of the Kauhanganui, the parliament of the Kīngitanga and Waikato Tainui government.^[1]

History

[edit ]

During the 1860s Maungakawa had a population of several hundred.^[2]

Remnants of the Sanatorium buildings and Mrs. Sophia Thornton's 1890s garden

In 1868 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) was bought, or leased from Māori owners by Daniel Thornton,^[3] and, after his death, a large house was put on what was later called Sanatorium Hill.^[4]

In 1891 a building, called the Maori Parliament Building, was opened by Māori King Tawhiao. The opening was attended by between 4,000 to 5,000. After returning from England after failing to have an audience with Queen Victoria, King Tawhiao convened a Māori parliament^[a] at Maungakawa in 1894. Māori travelled from all across the country for this parliament.^[5]

Sanatorium

[edit ]

Te Waikato Sanatorium for tuberculosis was officially opened in 1903 by Liberal Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward,^[6] as one of the few the Public Health Department hospitals .^[4] Closure came in 1921,^[7] during the second Massey Ministry, when Health Minister James Parr said half the beds were empty.^[8] He was supported by Cambridge Borough Council; the Mayor saying it was a burden on the state.^[9]

Maungakawa Scenic Reserve

[edit ]

Maungakawa Scenic Reserve was named after the former Maungakawa estate.^[10] The reserve has a native bush walk and views over the surrounding area.^[11] It was formed in 1953. The Gudex stone obelisk was erected on Pukemako hill, when 7 acres were set aside from the reserve to become Gudex Memorial Park in 1968. On a clear day Mt Ruapehu and Mt Taranaki are visible.^[10]

Notes

[edit ]

^ This parliament had no actual legal power or authority

References

[edit ]

^ "Tensions ease - Maori King movement 1860-94". Normalising relations. New Zealand History online. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
^ "Maungakawa Settlement". Cambridge Museum. 2003. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
^ "Thornton Family". Cambridge Museum. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
^ ^a ^b "12. – Waikato places – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand" . Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via teara.govt.nz.
^ Vennell, C. W.; More, David (1976). Land of the Three Rivers: A Centennial History of Piako County. Wilson & Horton. p. 274.
^ "Te Waikato Sanatorium Opened by Sir Joseph Ward". Waikato Times. 12 December 1903. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
^ "Waikato Sanatorium". Waikato Independent. 15 November 1921. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
^ "Waikato Sanatorium". Waikato Independent. 2 June 1921. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
^ "Closing Sanatorium". Waikaoto Independent. 23 June 1921. Retrieved 1 January 2019 – via paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
^ ^a ^b "Gudex Memorial Maungakawa". Cambridge Heritage blog. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
^ "Walking - Tracks - Maungakawa (Sanatorium Hill)". Cambridge i-Site. 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2012.