Waikato and the King Country

The Waikato and the King Country both are located in the North Island region of New Zealand. Waikato is the fourth largest region of New Zealand; where as King Country is a small sparsely populated area consisting of small townships, to the west of North Island. The Waikato and King Country both are popular travel destination.

Like most of the regions of New Zealand, the Waikato and the King Country have rich culture and historical backgrounds that date back to the 18th century. Both were strongholds for ‘New Zealand Land Wars’ against Maoris and Europeans. The King Country even got its name after the popular warrior chief ‘King Tawhiao’. This area was called ‘The King Country’ because King Tawhiao took refuge here following the Maori Wars. The ‘King’ acted as a monarch and ruled the place as an independent state. Waikato was the center for the largest and most formal war between Maori and European in the nineteenth century. Horse drawn gun carriages and ammunition wagons were seen everywhere around Waikato during the Maori war.

The affect of war and infliction has now given way to progress and development all over New Zealand. The Waikato region has 10,104 kilometers of road, which is the third highest for any region. Waikato has a strong network of roads; the great national highways connect Waikato to the upper and lower North Islands. Waikato is strategically located and is also close to the two main sea ports of Auckland and Tauranga. King Country on the other hand is a small settlement, mostly rural and sparsely populated. The King Country has no cities or large towns. The most significant townships are the rural centers of Te Kuiti in the north and Taumarunui in the south.

In 2004, Waikato and the King Country are rated as one of the fastest growing regions in the manufacturing, processing and service sectors. Employers are facing staff shortage here and they are now recruiting staff from other regions, helping the overall economy of the country in general. The increase in economy and work force is directly related to the demand of rental housing. Both the regions of Waikato and the King Country have the highest rate of employment than anywhere else in New Zealand. House ownership is also a good option for the residents especially in small towns, where the house prices have not increased much.

The rich culture and natural heritage of Waikato and the King Country brings the travelers to explore these off the beaten eco adventure lands and experience the true essence of Kiwi hospitality.