Pūkorokoro / Miranda facts for kids

Giant sculpture of an oystercatcher

Pūkorokoro / Miranda is a small village with a rich history located in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand. Until 2015, it was known simply as Miranda. This special place is famous for its amazing coastline, which is home to many different plants and animals. A group called the Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists' Trust helps people learn about and protect this beautiful area.

Discover Pūkorokoro / Miranda's Attractions

Pūkorokoro / Miranda offers fun things to see and do for visitors.

Explore the Shorebird Centre

The most famous spot is the Miranda Shorebird Centre. It is run by the Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists' Trust. Here, you can learn all about the many different shorebirds that visit the coast. It's a great place for birdwatching!

Relax at Miranda Hot Springs

Another popular attraction is the Miranda Hot Springs. These natural hot pools are a perfect place to relax and enjoy the warm water.

Visit Makomako Marae

The local Makomako Marae is a very important place for the Ngāti Pāoa people. It is a traditional meeting ground where they gather. The marae features a special meeting house called Rangimarie.

Understanding Pūkorokoro / Miranda's History

The area has a long and interesting past, especially concerning its name.

The Village and the Warship

The original village was called Pūkorokoro. In 1863, a warship named HMS Miranda arrived with soldiers. These soldiers were sent to build a fort to support British troops during the New Zealand Wars in the Waikato region. Even though the local Ngāti Pāoa people were loyal to the Crown, their village of Pūkorokoro was shelled by the Miranda. Several forts were built, and one was named after the ship. This is how the name "Miranda" became linked to the area.

The Journey to a Dual Name

The name of the area has a deep meaning for the local Māori people.

Restoring the Name Pūkorokoro

In 2012, the Ngāti Pāoa people shared their feelings with the Miranda Naturalists' Trust. They explained that the historic name Pūkorokoro was lost during the Invasion of the Waikato. The Trust agreed that a dual name would be a good idea. They decided to keep "Miranda" in their own name for a while because they were known by it internationally.

Community Support for Change

The Miranda Naturalists' Trust asked its members what they thought about the name change. In 2014, everyone at their meeting agreed to change the Trust's name to Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists' Trust.

Official Name Changes in 2015

Ngāti Pāoa then worked with the Office of Treaty Settlements to suggest a dual name for the area: Pūkorokoro / Miranda. They also suggested renaming the nearby hot springs and the area around them. The New Zealand Geographic Board also proposed adding a macron (a line above a vowel, like in "Pūkorokoro") to the names of a local hill and stream.

These name changes became official in 2015:

• The hot springs were named Pūkorokoro / Miranda Hot Springs.
• The area next to the hot springs was also named Pūkorokoro / Miranda Hot Springs.
• The main populated place "Miranda" was officially changed to Pūkorokoro / Miranda.

Understanding the Population of Pūkorokoro / Miranda

Let's look at how many people live in Pūkorokoro / Miranda.

Population Numbers

The Pūkorokoro / Miranda settlement covers about 18 square kilometers. In the 2018 New Zealand census, 120 people lived here. This number was the same as in the 2013 census. It was an increase of 12 people since the 2006 census.

Who Lives Here?

There were 45 households in 2018. There were 63 males and 57 females. The average age was 47.4 years old. About 12.5% of the people were under 15 years old.

Ethnic Backgrounds

Most people (90.0%) identified as European/Pākehā. About 20.0% identified as Māori. Some people identified with more than one ethnic group.

Religion and Work

Many people (57.5%) said they had no religion. About 32.5% were Christian. For those aged 15 and older, 57.1% worked full-time, and 20.0% worked part-time.