Pakuranga, Auckland – living history heritage village

Howick Historical Village

Explore an early settlement as it was in the 1800s. Open the doors of real homes and experience living history for yourself. Find out how the early settlers would have lived as they went about their daily activities.

Visitors will be struck by a life defined by sunrise and sunset where lighting was a weak fluttering raupo rush lamp, and water was carried in buckets from an outdoor well. Sustainability and “waste not, want not” were the guiding principles of daily life.

Between 1847-1854, eleven ships brought Fencibles and their families which nearly doubled the population of Auckland at that time. Other Fencible villages were at Panmure, Otahuhu, and Onehunga.

Howick historical village – festivals & events

The dedicated volunteers and Howick Historical Village team offer a wide range of programmes, tours and workshops throughout the year celebrating everything from Easter to Matariki. A time of renewal and celebration that begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster signalling the start of the Māori new year. Check Howick Historical Village for upcoming events.

Who were the fencible soldiers

Imperial English military rewards were determined by your birth. Officers were drawn from the aristocracy and landed families while the rank and file from tenant farmers and trades. The opportunity for non-commissioned soldiers to acquire land would have been a powerful incentive to immigrate to the other side of the world to colonial New Zealand. The new immigrants were promised land in return for limited military duties. At some point, the fencibles represented 10% of the new European population of Auckland.

Services and Facilities of Howick Historic Village

• Illustrated village guides are available at reception in Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Korean
• Free parking
• There is accessible access to village pathways and bathrooms
• Mobility scooter available
• Café on site
• Howick Historical Village is part of the Safe Space Initiative
• Toilets on site
• Various picnic areas
• Except for Guide Dogs, dogs are not permitted in the Village grounds and must remain on a leash in the café premises and main entrance