Author(s): Cummins Peg

Rotorua Books

Tirau's history goes back at least as far as 1650, when relatively large numbers of Maori had settled in the area. During the 1800s, the predominant tribe in the area was Ngati Raukawa whose origins were Tainui. There is evidence of large villages on the huils around the township and the numerous pa indicated that locals defended their territory vigorously. About 1880, land originally acquired from Maori by William Buckland was later bought by the Auckland Land Company. Some of the land was sold off for the township of Oxford. The name of the settlement was changed in 1895 to Tirau and all the while surrounding countryside was being developed into farms. In 1938 the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company opened a butter factory in Tirau. The Matamata County Council had held its first meeting in 1909, and the county and the Dairy Company became the main employees in the township. Tirau has survived into the 21st century. Many of the smaller farms have been swallowed up into larger enterprises. The dairy factory has grown in size and now produces ethanol and casienates. So many people have called this place home and those who have left look back on their time there with nostalgia and a great affection.