Pukete


Pukete is a 1970s riverside suburb in northwestern Hamilton in New Zealand.
Pukete has two primary schools: Pukete Primary school and Te Rapa Primary school.
The cobblestoned walk in the park has a grass dog exercise area. The riverside walkway, which includes many pedestrian bridges, can be used by walkers or cyclists, but the lower sections are subject to flooding in winter. A pedestrian bridge links Braithwaite Park to Flagstaff on the eastern side of the Waikato River. A 2015 River Plan proposed it become 'a flower garden bridge'.
There is a small beach on the west side of the river at Braithwaite park often used in summer by water skiers and picnickers. To the north of the residential area is the Pukete Mountain Bike track, an Equestrian centre, and a two-lane launching ramp into the Waikato River, all on the Pukete Farm Park. A concreted riverside track, for bikes and pedestrians, runs north from Mountain View Lane starting by the southeast side of the Fonterra Te Rapa Milk powder factory.
The eastern part of Pukete and neighbouring St Andrews is built on an old river terrace. This rises to the flat alluvial fan that covers most of Hamilton. The land rises to one of Hamilton's many small hills at Ngaio Place giving views over most of Hamilton.
Four-laning of the Pukete Bridge was completed in Easter 2013, well ahead of schedule due to the long dry summer.

Demographics

Pukete includes two census areas, East and West. The population is stable and they are wealthier and younger than the 37.4 years of the national average, as shown below -
In 2018 the main ethnic groups were -
AreaEuropeanMāoriAsian
East80.9%15.1%10.8%
West73.7%24.3%10.7%

History

Pukete Pa is located in the north of the suburb on a cliff on the Waikato River bank, at the northern end of the riverside Braithwate Park. It is thought to have been built by Nga Iwi and later conquered by Ngati Koura The name Pukete comes from a locally made bag used to soak hinau berries in streams to ferment and preserve them. The area was confiscated in 1864, after the invasion of the Waikato. A double ditch remains to the north of the Pa. Carved wooden items, found close to the pā, are in Waikato Museum. Habitation was sparse, as one early European traveller noted no other settlement for along the Waikato.
Pukete parish existed from at least 1867, but, until the 1900s, Horotiu was often referred to as Pukete. Horotiu railway station changed its name from Pukete on 23 June 1907, when the proposed post office was referred to as Horotiu, and the name of Horotiu school changed from Pukete in 1911.
In 2011 Hamilton Libraries compiled a list of street names, showing that most development occurred over about a decade from 1969, that many roads were named after trees and several developers were involved Before long, Pukete School was opened in 1972 and a swimming pool in 1975. Rather slower to open were a library in 1999 and Te Manawa Hall in 2002.
Street nameDateNamed bySource of name
Church Road1945-50Waipa County Councilafter a Waipa County councillor of 1945
Ashurst Avenue1969Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Sherwood Drive1969Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Totara Drive1969Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Challinor Street1969Builders Land Servicesafter R.C. Clough, chairman of the board
Clematis Avenue1969Builders Land Servicestree theme
Pukete Road1969Builders Land Servicesparish name
Fuchsia Avenue1971Builders Land Servicestree theme
Houhere Place1971Builders Land Servicestree theme
Kohekohe Place1971Builders Land Servicestree theme
Pohutukawa Drive1971Builders Land Servicestree theme
Tanekaha Place1971Builders Land Servicestree theme
Titoki Place1973Builders Land Servicestree theme
Elmwood Crescent1973Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Oakfield Crescent1973Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Cullimore Street1974Peerless Homes Ltdafter Bert Cullimore, Housing Corporation
Frost Place1974Peerless Homes Ltdland owner
Highland Drive1974Peerless Homes Ltd-
Manuka Street1974Builders Land Servicestree theme
Nikau Place1975Builders Land Servicestree theme
Norfolk Place1975Peerless Homes Ltdtree theme
Ash Place1976Peerless Homes Ltdtree theme
Cypress Crescent1976Peerless Homes Ltdtree theme
Matipo Crescent1976Brian Perry Developmentstree theme
Ngaio Place1977Builders Land Servicestree theme
Cherrywood Street1977Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Chestnut Place1977Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Sycamore Place1977Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
Willowfield Place1977Taupo Totara Timber Companytree theme
O'Connell Court1977Housing Corporationland owner
Horoeka Court1978Paramount Builders Ltdtree theme
Kupe Place1999Grasshopper DevelopmentsTaranaki gas field
Maui Street1999Grasshopper DevelopmentsTaranaki gas field
McKee Street1999Grasshopper DevelopmentsTaranaki gas field
Karewa Place2002Wairere Drive Properties LtdKarewa Island, Bay of Plenty

Braithwaite Park was owned by Waikato Hospital Board, who sold it to developers in 1990, the park being transferred to Hamilton City Council on 12 June 1990.