Stockade Hill, Howick

Stockade Hill was the location of the stockade built to protect Howick, New Zealand and its population from Māori during the New Zealand Land Wars. It is located on the main road into Howick. Howick's war memorial is located in the centre of the remains of the stockade's earthworks which are readily visible today.

History

The stockade was probably built in 1862, for defence of homesteaders against the perceived Maori threat during the New Zealand Land Wars.[1] The precise construction of the stockade is not known,[1] but it was probably constructed of loop holed sheets of iron surmounting a ditch and bank, and enclosed barracks for regular troops. Women and children slept here at night for several weeks in 1863 when there was fear of attack during the Land Wars. Bavarian mercenaries stationed here in 1863 erected a Christmas tree, believed to be the first in New Zealand, and sang carols.

21st century

To the south of the hill on the main road can be seen the original concrete road that ran all the way from Howick to Panmure, thus allowing much shorter travel times between Howick and Auckland.

Until recently the hill had two large concrete water tanks providing water to Howick. These have now been removed. Each year the ANZAC Day (25 April) parade ends at the top of the hill, where a service is held.

At the centre of the old Stockade, which is now a public park in which the stockad's perimeter earthworks are early visible, is the Howick War Memorial, which was unveiled on 13 January 1921.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 New Zealand Archaeological Association 2000, p. 107.
  2. ↑ Ringer 2014.

References

  • New Zealand Archaeological Association (2000), Archaeology in New Zealand, 43-44, New Zealand Archaeological Association, p. 107
  • Ringer, Bruce (14 October 2014), Howick and Pakuranga First World War memorial [on Stockade Hill], New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage endnotes:
    • 'Howick War Memorial: Unveiling by Governor: Obelisk on Historic Site', New Zealand Herald, 14/1/1921, p. 6;
    • [photographs], Auckland Weekly News, 20/1/1921, supp. p. 34;
    • ‘Howick News', Otahuhu News, 24/4/1935, p. 4;
    • 'Anzac Day Observance at Howick', Otahuhu News, 2/5/1935, p. 4;
    • [Photograph], Howick Post, 10/5/1961, p. 1;
    • 'Large Turnout Honours War Veteran', Howick & Pakuranga Times, 27/4/2006, pp. 1, 8;
    • 'Stockade Hill Echoes to the Sound of the Last Post', Eastern Courier, 28/420/2006, pp. 4-5;
    • 'Honour for Hero', Howick & Pakuranga Times, 4/5/2006, p. 13.

Further reading

  • Cruickshank, Arden (20 June 2014), Howick Stockade remediation works: archaeological monitoring (HPA authority 2011/512): report to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and Auckland Council (PDF), CFG Heritage Ltd
  • CC staff (1902). "Howick". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. 2: Auckland Provincial District. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited. pp. 656–657.
  • M., Léah (1 January 2010). "Stockade Hill - Howick - Auckland, New Zealand". Yelp. Retrieved 4 July 2015. — "[the hill is] a place where East Auckland events are held throughout the year, whether it be small concerts, markets or festivals"
  • "Stockade Hill, Howick". Foursquare. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2015. — "16 photos and 2 tips from 33 visitors to Stockade Hill, Howick"


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