Military Settlements of the Waikato

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: New Zealand

Military Settlements of Waikato

In order to maintain peace in the Waikato following the wars of the 1860s, the Government solution was to establish military settlers on confiscated land.

Some men were recruited in New Zealand, particularly gold miners; others were recruited in Australia

Each man was allocated a free section of farming land and a town section.

A Private soldier was allocated 50 acres of rural land and a town acre

A Captain was allocated 300 acres of rural land and a town acre

A Field Officer was allocated 400 acres of rural land and a town acre.

map - Plan of the Military Settlements in the Upper Waikato District - copy of map by Charles Heaphy showing military settlements including Horotiu, Whatawhata, Hamilton, Harapepe, Alexandra, Cambridge and Kihikihi.

ALEXANDRA

CAMBRIDGE

Cambridge was settled at Horotiu, on each side of the Waikato River in 1864 by the 3rd Waikato militia, the settlements connected by punt.

Following World War One, the Te Miro Soldier Settlement was established on James Taylor's Te Miro Station.

see the list of settlers - Cambridge Museum - World War One – Te Miro Soldier Settlement

HAMILTON

Founded by the Fourth Regiment of Waikato Militia on a stretch of the Waikato River, where a Maori settlement called Kirikiriroa stood.

Settlers for Hamilton were recruited in New South Wales by Captain William Steele

see Hamilton City Libraries - Hamilton as a military settlement – 4th Waikato Militia]

HARAPEPE

KIHIKIHI

Kihikihi Military Settlement was founded on the Puniu river, on land confiscated from Rewi Manga Maniapoto

WHATAWHATA