Kamo, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Kamo is a small township north of Whangarei
, approximately five minutes drive from the Whangarei
CBD. The name is a Māori
word meaning "eyelash", but has also been said to mean "to bubble up", referring to hot springs in the area. Mount Parakiore is a volcanic dome rising 391 m to the northwest of the town. It is about one million years old, and part of the Harbour Fault which also includes Mount Hikurangi near Hikurangi
, and Parahaki in Whangarei.
The population was 6,312 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 297 from 2001.
roads to Whangarei wharf. In 1882 a short railway line was completed between Kamo and Whangarei to carry the coal. This was one of Northland's first railways. The railway still exists as part of the North Auckland Line. The mine closed in 1955, with the seams worked out. Limonite
was also quarried at Kamo.
A Wesleyan
church was built in 1881, the Anglican All Saints Church in 1886, and a Presbyterian church in 1911. The first Roman Catholic church in the Whangarei area opened in Kamo about 1881.
Kamo became a Town District in 1884, at which point it had a population of 410, slightly smaller than Whangarei.
The town was known for its hot springs in the early 20th century, although several people died of suffocation in covered baths between 1901 and 1920. The iron-rich water was promoted as a health tonic.
In the early 1960s the boundaries of Whangarei city expanded to include Kamo.
Kamo Primary School, Totara Grove School and Hurupaki School are contributing primary (years 1-6) schools with rolls of 395,, 194 and 329 respectively.
Excellere College is a state integrated composite (years 1-15) school with a roll of 191.
All these schools are coeducational. Totara Grove has a decile rating
of 2. Hurupaki School has a decile of 8. The others all have a decile rating of 5.
Kamo Primary School opened in July 1873 in a private house. It had grown to 64 students by the time it moved into Kamo Public Hall in 1877. and it moved to its own building in 1881. In 1946, it moved to its present site. The older students were split to Kamo Intermediate in 1964. Kamo East School opened in 1966, and was later renamed to Totara Grove School.
Bunny Finlayson, Bevan Holmes and Ian Jones
played for Kamo Rugby Club as did Auckland Blues player Justin Collins and Auckland Blues coach Peter Sloane
.
Michael Hill (the jeweler) attended Kamo High School.
Ross Ihaka
, Pickering Award recipient and co-originator of the R programming language, attended Kamo High School.
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
, approximately five minutes drive from the Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
CBD. The name is a Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
word meaning "eyelash", but has also been said to mean "to bubble up", referring to hot springs in the area. Mount Parakiore is a volcanic dome rising 391 m to the northwest of the town. It is about one million years old, and part of the Harbour Fault which also includes Mount Hikurangi near Hikurangi
Hikurangi
Hikurangi is a settlement in Northland, New Zealand. The city of Whangarei is 17 km to the south, and Kawakawa is 39 km northwest. The Glenbervie Forest is southeast of the settlement. State Highway 1 once passed through the town, but now bypasses it to the west. Mount Hikurangi is a...
, and Parahaki in Whangarei.
The population was 6,312 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 297 from 2001.
History
Coal mining was an early industry in the area. Tunnelling first started in 1875, but it was not practical to carry the coal over the unmetalledMetal (pavement)
The term road metal refers to the crushed rock used for road beds, surfaces, 'all-weather' walkways and paths, foundations, and railway embankments, among other things. The use of road metal dates back to antiquity.-History:...
roads to Whangarei wharf. In 1882 a short railway line was completed between Kamo and Whangarei to carry the coal. This was one of Northland's first railways. The railway still exists as part of the North Auckland Line. The mine closed in 1955, with the seams worked out. Limonite
Limonite
Limonite is an ore consisting in a mixture of hydrated iron oxide-hydroxide of varying composition. The generic formula is frequently written as FeO·nH2O, although this is not entirely accurate as limonite often contains a varying amount of oxide compared to hydroxide.Together with hematite, it has...
was also quarried at Kamo.
A Wesleyan
Wesleyanism
Wesleyanism or Wesleyan theology refers, respectively, to either the eponymous movement of Protestant Christians who have historically sought to follow the methods or theology of the eighteenth-century evangelical reformers, John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, or to the likewise eponymous...
church was built in 1881, the Anglican All Saints Church in 1886, and a Presbyterian church in 1911. The first Roman Catholic church in the Whangarei area opened in Kamo about 1881.
Kamo became a Town District in 1884, at which point it had a population of 410, slightly smaller than Whangarei.
The town was known for its hot springs in the early 20th century, although several people died of suffocation in covered baths between 1901 and 1920. The iron-rich water was promoted as a health tonic.
In the early 1960s the boundaries of Whangarei city expanded to include Kamo.
Education
Kamo High School is a secondary (years 9-13) school with a roll of approximately 1470 students as of February 2009. The school was established in 1960. Kamo Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 637. This school has a friendly rivalry with its two neighbouring schools, Whangarei Boys' High School and Whangarei Girls' High School.Kamo Primary School, Totara Grove School and Hurupaki School are contributing primary (years 1-6) schools with rolls of 395,, 194 and 329 respectively.
Excellere College is a state integrated composite (years 1-15) school with a roll of 191.
All these schools are coeducational. Totara Grove has a decile rating
Socio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 2. Hurupaki School has a decile of 8. The others all have a decile rating of 5.
Kamo Primary School opened in July 1873 in a private house. It had grown to 64 students by the time it moved into Kamo Public Hall in 1877. and it moved to its own building in 1881. In 1946, it moved to its present site. The older students were split to Kamo Intermediate in 1964. Kamo East School opened in 1966, and was later renamed to Totara Grove School.
Notable people
All BlacksAll Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
Bunny Finlayson, Bevan Holmes and Ian Jones
Ian Jones (rugby player)
Ian Donald Jones MNZM is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played 79 tests for the All Blacks and is the most capped lock and formed one of the most famous lock pairings in international rugby, often partnered with Robin Brooke in the All Blacks from 1992 to 1998...
played for Kamo Rugby Club as did Auckland Blues player Justin Collins and Auckland Blues coach Peter Sloane
Peter Sloane
Peter Sloane is a New Zealand rugby coach and former player. He played for Northland from 1972–1983, and made fifteen appearances for the All Blacks, including one test match, between 1973 and 1979...
.
Michael Hill (the jeweler) attended Kamo High School.
Ross Ihaka
Ross Ihaka
Ross Ihaka is an Associate Professor of Statistics at the University of Auckland, who is recognized, along with Robert Gentleman, as one of the originators of the R programming language...
, Pickering Award recipient and co-originator of the R programming language, attended Kamo High School.