Left for Papakura area this Saturday morning on such a beautiful fine day. Driving along the newest Waikato expressway (State highway) was delightful, and it was a smooth ride all the way by reducing the time from 1 hour and 30 minutes down to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remember, back to our childhood days, it felt like 2 hours and 30 minutes or less on the winding roads, traffic jams and through rural townships like Huntly. But today, it was brilliant and straightforward from/Eureka to Auckland.
Arriving at Taupiri, it was foggy surrounding the mountain – a special Māori place and, of course, a sacred mountain. The spirit surrounding the mountain gave me something special meaning when I look at this mountain from time to time through travelling to Auckland.
We passed along Rangiriri, Meremere and Mercer as I looked at the Waikato River. It was over flooding the farmland and the wetland reserves due to the rainy month – July. It is undoubtedly a bonus for Aucklanders to conserve water intake instead not from our Waikato River for the last five years. (video clip here) This area reminds me of a story from my great grand aunt Olive about uncle – Charles Watkinson, his wife Sarah Ann and two children – Vera and Sidney lived in Mercer. Charles worked as an engine driver on the river steamer Manuwai along the river.
https://digitalnz.org/stories/5acf2ae812575724c7ef6465
Reaching Pōkeno, the famous bacon place and the most significant ice cream scoop, provides a favoured stop by travelling to Auckland. “There are two stores – right next-door to each other – selling scrumptious icecream, as well as other food-on-the-go. The two shops are just as popular as each other, so take your pick. Come with an empty stomach, or icecream-loving friends, though. One of them, Pokeno Takeaways, sells 15-scoop monster cones for $18. Most people opt for more manageable version.” https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/five-of-the-best-ice-cream-shops/CA5UBAU2ZBWVIC654CNZC6V3E4/?c_id=6&objectid=11381565
What does Pōkeno mean? “very first inhabitants, and many who have taken up residence since, Pōkeno – meaning a ‘place of refuge’ – has gained the reputation as a safe haven where people can escape the stresses of city life and relax amongst friends and family.” https://www.pokenovillageestate.co.nz/history
Unfortunately, Pōkeno is no longer a quiet local village due to the demand for housing from the Aucklanders, and the population quadrupled in size today. In Greater Auckland, there are no rooms for housing, and the Aucklanders have to seek outside Greater Auckland to buy homes like in Bombay or Pōkeno.
Travelling through Bombay onward to Takanini – the newest area after Papakura. Our family ancestors lived in Papakura for many years since they arrived from England, Ireland and Scotland. Late Great grand aunt Olive lived there until she passed away, and I visited her several times to discuss genealogy. Olive was close to Ann Brown (our grand aunt) until Ann passed away within a month in 1988.
At last, we arrived at the Friend of The Farmer cafe near Ardmore, Takanini and met my partner’s whānau there for the day. What a sight to see the wall of books!
Life in Eureka 