Kamo, New Zealand

Infobox New Zealand suburbs
name = Kamo
city1 = Whangarei
population = 6,309
popdate = 2006
north = Kauri
northeast =
east = Tikipunga
southeast = Otangarei
south = Whau Valley
southwest =
west =
northwest =

Location map
New Zealand
label=Kamo
lat_dir=S | lat_deg=35 | lat_min=41
lon_dir=E | lon_deg=174 | lon_min=19
position=right
width= 150
float=right
caption=

Kamo is a small township north of Whangarei, approximately five minutes drive from the Whangarei CBD. The name is a Māori word meaning "eyelash", [ [http://www.learningmedia.co.nz/nz/online/ngata/e2mdictionary Ngata Online Dictionary] ] but has also been said to mean "to bubble up", referring to hot springs in the area.Mt 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 Mt Hikurangi near Hikurangi, and Parahaki in Whangarei. [cite web|url=http://www.gsnz.org.nz/gs_downloads/fieldtrips/MP112B_FT4.pdf|title=Introduction to Whangarei geology|author=Bruce Hayward, Mike Isaac, Keith Miller and Bernhard Spörli|format=PDF|year=2002|publisher=Geological Society of New Zealand|pages=p 27]

The population was 6,309 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 297 from 2001.cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/northland-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Whangarei District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand The population shown is the combined population of Kamo East and Kamo West.]

Kamo has the northernmost traffic lights in New Zealand on the intersection of Kamo, Station and 3 Mile Bush Roads.Fact|date=March 2008

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 unmetalled roads to Whangarei wharf. In 1882 a short railway line was completed between Kamo and Whangarei to carry the coal. [cite book|title=Whangarei: The Founding Years|last=Pickmere|first=Nancy Preece|year=1986|pages=p 144] 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 seamed worked out. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/MiningAndMineralResources/Coal/en|title=Mining and Mineral Resources - Coal|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)] Limonite was also quarried at Kamo. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/M/MiningAndMineralResources/OtherMetallicOres/en|title=Mining and Mineral Resources - Other Metallic Ores|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)]

A Wesleyan church was built in 1881, the Anglican All Saints Church in 1886, and a Presbyterian church in 1911. [cite book|title=Kamo: The Story of a Village|last=Menefy|first=Diana|year=1994|isbn=0-473-02806-9|pages=pp 85-91] The first Roman Catholic church in the Whangarei area opened in Kamo about 1881. [Pickmere, p 133 gives the 1881 date, but Menefy, p 91, says the land was purchased in 1883.]

Kamo became a Town District in 1884, at which point it had a population of 410, slightly smaller than Whangarei. [Menefy, p 14]

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. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/HotSpringsAndGeothermalEnergy/ThermalPoolsAndSpas/5/en|title=Thermal pools and spas - Leisure and pleasure|encyclopedia=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand] The iron-rich water was promoted as a health tonic. [cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/HotSpringsAndGeothermalEnergy/ThermalPoolsAndSpas/3/en|title=Thermal pools and spas - Health benefits|encyclopedia=Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand]

In the early 1960s the boundaries of Whangarei city expanded to include Kamo. [cite encyclopedia|title=Whangarei|encyclopedia=Bateman New Zealand Encyclopedia|pages=p 632|edition=4th edition|year=1995]

Education

Kamo High School is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a roll of 1333. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=13|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Kamo High School|publisher=Ministry of Education] The school was established in 1960. [cite web|url=http://www.kamohigh.school.nz/main.cfm?id=2672|title=School|publisher=Kamo High School] Kamo Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 637. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1029|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Kamo Intermediate|publisher=Ministry of Education] 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, [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1030|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Kamo School|publisher=Ministry of Education] , 194 [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1028|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Totara Grove School|publisher=Ministry of Education] and 329 [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1018|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Hurupaki School|publisher=Ministry of Education] respectively.

Kamo Christian College is a state integrated composite (years 1-15) school with a roll of 191. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=429|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Kamo Christian College|publisher=Ministry of Education]

All these schools are coeducational. Totara Grove has a decile rating of 2. Hirupaki 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. [Menefy, pp 95-106] 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.cite web|url=http://www.kamoprimary.school.nz/information.htm|title=Kamo Primary School - A Short History|publisher=Kamo Primary School]

Notable people

All Blacks 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) also attended Kamo High School.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.kamohigh.school.nz/ Kamo High School website]
* [http://www.kamoint.school.nz/ Kamo Intermediate website]
* [http://www.kamo.knowledge.net.nz/ Kamo School website]
* [http://www.kcc.school.nz/ Kamo Christian College website]