A Tribute to George Herbert Stubbs
Mr. Stubbs came to Mangatangi in l9l2 to take up his block of land, an area of 7213 acres.
Mangatangi ‘Rippling Stream’ or ‘Babbling Brook’ that is its literal meaning. Mangatangi is a farming community bounded on the north by the southern Hunua Ranges, along the south-east by what was known as the Miranda Government Block, while the west bounds Mangatawhiri and Maramarua.
Pre- European occupation of our district by Maaori was extensive albeit sporadic. The marae or meeting house, ‘Tamaoho’ at Mangatangi has been in operation for 100 years. The marae has continued to develop and recently a whare kai (or dining room) has been built. The annual Poukai Day is held on 12 October each year.
There are some very good Pa sites around the area namely Tui Pa on Roulston’s farm and others on Vining’s, Taylor’s and Vollebregt’s. Our wellknown Porcupine Hill or Whatarua did have some excellent store pits.
We also have three redoubts, the Miranda, Esk and Surrey. These fortifications were built to stop Maori infiltrating behind the lines after the Waikato land wars in the 1860’s.
Prior to the 1900’s sawmillers came into the district and started cutting kauri from the virgin bush. 1915 saw the end of the kauri era but gum diggers were still around. There was also a flaxmill in operation.
Land was first taken up in the Mangatangi district in the 1860’s by the FieldPorter family, an area of 10,000 acres. Early 1870’s saw this land divided up. The Vining Brothers arrived in 1871 after purchasing 3000 acres. Another block of over 2000 was sold to the Waller family. Mangatangi was still deemed to be out in the backblocks until the arrival of Mr George Stubbs and two partners who purchased 7,000 acres from local iwi and formed the Mangatangi Land Company.
This was the start of organised development in Mangatangi. The land was divided into farming blocks, which were ring-fenced, with a house, a shed and a portion of grass.
From 1918 settlers started arriving to take up their land. Each milked a few cows by hand and slowly increased their stock, farming and prices were going well but the Post War boom was over, prices fell and Mangatangi succumbed to the slump days. Times started to improve for them only to have the depression of 1930s on their hands and like everyone else in the country, those that were able to weather this period were able to carry on, while others left their land. It was said that people gained a very real sense of values and understanding during this time.
A school was soon needed for the families of these settlers and one was opened in Dec 1919 with 13 pupils. Today it is the largest school in our area with a steady roll of over 100 pupils catering for many varied activities. The school is the centre of the community and still has the tradition of calf and lamb day, which is well supported, by the district.
Between 1931-35 most of the roads had been metalled and some farmers and relief gangs provided the labour. Up to this time dairying was the only industry but sheep farming was introduced. In the 1930s the government Small Farm Settlement Scheme came into being and the bigger blocks of land were divided up, meaning more farmers were settled on the land. The population growth provided impetus for a store and a garage. These were set up in 1936.
Electricity came to the district in 1931 and this helped to improve the lives of the folk on the land. Gone were the candles, the smelly kerosene lamps and petrol engines for the milking sheds.
The population growth provided impetus for a store and a garage. These were set up in 1936. Electricity came to the district in 1931 and this helped to improve the lives of the folk on the land. Gone were the candles, the smelly kerosene lamps and petrol engines for the milking sheds.
The war years came again and many of the men were sent overseas while others joined the Home Guard to defend the home front.
Trucking businesses for carrying stock, general goods and lime from Miranda were set up in the early 1930s. Mr Josh de Jongh’s depot was situated on the Kaiaua Road and another truck depot started by Mr Pippin was down at the Mangatangi, Monument Rd and Miranda junction.
1952-53 saw a few changes. The Mangatangi Garage was sold to Mr J Davis and Bell-Booths took over the store. Mr Norm Frederiksen took over the school bus run and setup an engineering business.
The earliest Post Office and telephone exchange was situated in the Bentley’s house, before a Post Office was built beside the hall around 1931. The telephone was operated from Hartmaan’s house on Monument Rd for some time before an exchange was built beside the Fire Station and became Automatic in 1950s. Rural Delivery came in 1936.
The first hall was built in 1940 and in 1960 a new hall was built incorporating a Plunket Room and a Library.
Montana came into the area in 1968 and planted 450 acres of grapevines. The vines succumbed to the phylloxera and they closed the operation in 1984 and sold off the land. Many of the locals were employed by Montana particularly during the harvest season.
In 1972 we saw the formation of the Mangatangi Fire Party, progressing to a full fire brigade and is an important facility throughout our area. The Mangatangi Dam, which provides water for the Auckland area, was opened in1977 and this lovely area is worth a visit.
Tennis has always been strong in Mangatangi since the courts were first built in 1948-49. Today we have three Astroturf courts adjacent to the school and they are used for hockey and netball practice. Mangatangi Tennis Club survives today with junior teams in interclub competitions.
The Kaiaua-Miranda Play Centre was formerly situated at Miranda but in May 2004 a new Play Centre was opened at Mangatangi and caters for all preschoolers in the area. Church had always been held in the hall but in July 2010 the congregation moved into their lovely building, the Christian Crossroads Centre.
Over the years farming methods have altered and diversification came in the 1980s, where we saw goat farming, rabbits, ostriches and horticulture including squash, onions and maize and bull farming introduced, but cattle and dairying are now the dominant farming pursuits. We have many lifestyle blocks and residents commute to Auckland and other urban centres to work.
Today Mangatangi is still a predominantly a rural settlement, proud of its past achievements and will continue to prosper.
Compiled by Kath Banks 2011
Exploring the journey: a comprehensive look at our origins, key milestones, and evolution through the years, celebrating the stories and achievements that have shaped our legacy.
Mr. Stubbs came to Mangatangi in l9l2 to take up his block of land, an area of 7213 acres.
Little did I think at the time that I would be returning in 1924 and spending most of my life…
ln the early 1930’s an attempt was made to establish a Tennis Club in Mangatangi.
Captain William Field Porter arrived in Auckland in 1841, having embarked with his family in his own brig, the “Porter”…
In December l927 we did our first shearing at Mangatangi. In those days we relied on the Maori.
Maori had long used the gum for making torches, lamp black for tattoo pigments and mixed it with sow thistle…
In 1957 the Smith family purchased from Mr. Ted Waller, a block of land comprising 956 acres of hill country…
John Cummings was born in County Antrim, Ireland in 1869 and came to New Zealand in 1874, on the ship…
Richard A Henderson was the sole charge teacher at this (Mangatangi) school when it opened in July 1923.
The Barton family arrived from England in 1885 and after a period in Auckland, farmed in Onewhero and Pukekawa before…
A virgin country such as ours in the l9th Century had to rely on its natural resources. Our district was…
In 1915 Mr. George S Johnston, set off from Auckland with a wagon drawn by two horses to Mangatangi.