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Story: Place names

Plan of Newcastle / Ngāruawāhia, 1860s

The town founded at the junction of the Waipā and Waikato Rivers in 1863 was named Newcastle, after a British notable, but reverted soon after to Ngāruawāhia, the Māori name of the locality. Name reversion was common in North Island districts with a significant Māori presence.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: NZ Map 4301

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Place names – Māori and Pākehā names, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/19357/plan-of-newcastle-ngaruawahia-1860s (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 1 March 2009.