King Country – the last of the mainland

Media release

Te Ara, New Zealand’s online encyclopedia

13 Dec 2011

King Country – the last of the mainland

Te Ara, New Zealand’s online encyclopedia, today launches its last regional entry; the King Country entry completes the set of mainland histories which chart the stories, events and people of New Zealand.

Te Ara has been created by a team within the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and documents the rich variety of New Zealand life through video, images and archival material brought together by a team of expert writers and historians.

“It’s great to finally have New Zealand’s places all represented on Te Ara. The team have been working their way through all our regions to ensure anyone anywhere can find out about our special country.” Says Senior Editor, Jock Phillips.

The King Country is aptly the last addition to the encyclopedia’s regional entries as it was one of the last parts of the country to be controlled by Māori. It was named the King Country with reference to the then Māori King,Tāwhiao, who sheltered in Ngati Maniapoto territory after the Waikato wars of the 1860s.

"The King’s Country’s fascinating 19th century history is embodied in its name – it is a place name based on a fascinating and complicated history that goes to the heart of Māori-Pakeha relations in New Zealand." Says Kerryn Pollock, King Country writer

Some fast facts:

• The King Country is home to one of NZ’s most famous feats of engineering, the Raurimu spiral.

• Only two places in the King Country have English names – Benneydale and National Park (which was Waimarino until 1926).

• The highest peak in the North Island is in the King Country – Mt Ruapehu at 2,797 metres.

• The first fossil ammonite found in NZ was discovered on the shores on Kawhia Harbour by Ferdinand Hochstetter in 1859. The largest ammonite ever found was discovered at nearby Taharoa in 1977 and is on display at Te Papa.

• Two of the most well-known Māori leaders of the 19th century lived in the King Country as guests of Ngati Maniapoto – King Tawhiao, the 2nd Māori king, and Te Kooti.

• The first school bus started at Piopio in 1924.

• A new species of giant weta was found in the King Country in 1962 living in a gorse patch.

• Whakapapa is the highest permanent settlement in NZ – 1,100 metres above sea level.

To delve into the King Country visit: http://teara.govt.nz/en/king-country