Impressions of Puhoi

This Spectrum, first broadcast in 1976, marks the 150^th anniversary of the settlement of Puhoi. The first settlers travelled 50 kilometres up from Auckland arriving at Puhoi in the evening of June 30, 1863. They were confronted by dense bush. Two nikau whares were the only sign of human habitation. Men and women alike wept with disappointment.

Puhoi in 1883 (Courtesy Puhoi Historical Society Inc)

They’d been promised 40 acres free hold land for each adult and 20 acres for each child. These pioneers from the central European kingdom of Bohemia had not expected open developed farmland but they’d no inkling that they would have to wrest a livelihood from this rugged, virgin country.

Puhoi in1903, the pub is the two storey building (Courtesy Puhoi Historical Society Inc)

Many years of toil lay ahead before dreams of farming self-sufficiency were realized. Unlike settlers in other areas, the Bohemians had no spare capital to see them through the hard times, the Catholic faith and their resourcefulness were their only support. In the meantime, they avoided starvation by taking out firewood, shingles and fence posts along the Puhoi river, the only access. Later, kauri became a major money earner and clay roads began to penetrate the bush. But even in the 1900s, particularly in winter, isolation was Puhoi’s lot.

Joe Rauner, heart of gold and feet of leather. (Courtesy Puhoi Historical Society Inc)

When Spectrum’s Jack Perkins visited Puhoi in 1976 he found that descendants of the original settlers still retained their musical traditions and recounted stories reflecting a unique way of life and the severe hardships faced by the pioneers.

Puhoi Town Band (Courtesy Puhoi Historical Society Inc)

Puhoi pub today (Courtesy David Steemson)

(Courtesy David Steemson)