What is "pukekawa"

Pukekawa volcano is located in the Lower Waikato area of the Waikato District, New Zealand. It was in the Franklin District until 2010. It is 66 km south of central Auckland. Pukekawa, an extinct volcano, is one of the oldest volcanic cones in the Auckland region. The area's fertile soils are used to grow a range of vegetables, including onions, potatoes and carrots. There is the Pukekawa primary school which is located at Tuakau. All Pukekawa's service centres appear to be elsewhere. The Onewhero Golf Club is listed by newzealand.com as the sole recreational activity in Pukekawa. The former State Highway 22 runs through Pukekawa.

An ancient Maori pā (fortress) lies on the summit of Pukekawa hill. Otherwise Pukekawa shows no signs of pre-European contact Maori settlement. Its name pukekawa (bitter hill) tells why. The hill could not grow the kūmara (sweet potato).

In the 1920s James Cowan described Pukekawa as a "beautiful round green hill on the west side of Waikato".