Crossing the Waikato River at Huntly by water, rail, road and air

Huntly, known by local iwi as Rāhui Pōkeka, straddles both sides of the Waikato River north of Hamilton (Image pre-1914)

Initially occupied by Waikato-Tainui, settlement grew post-Waikato Wars (1863-64) with farming, coal mining & brickworks

By 1868, the Great South Road had reached Huntly & became known as the 'Main Street' as it passed through Huntly

The road was often impassable for wheeled vehicles & more suited for horse & rider

In 1877, the Main Trunk Line reached Huntly, & SH1 passed through it until bypassed by the Waikato Expressway in 2020

Waka

Rāhui Pōkeka was initially occupied by Waikato-Tainui who used waka to journey along the Waikato River

Gunboats & Paddlesteamers

Paddlesteamers were used as gunboats during the Waikato War (1963-64) & for transport post-War

Punt / Pontoon-styled ferry

On 18 Sept 1884, a punt began operating to connect Huntly East & West residents. The punt was winched across.

Rowboats & motorboats

(Image: An outing along the Waikato River at Huntly, no date)

Huntly's rail/traffic bridge opened in 1915

Later in 1959, it became rail access only & a walkway was attached

Huntly's second bridge "Tainui Road Bridge" opened in 1959 for vehicles & pedestrians

(Image: Students walking from the west bank along the roadway over the Tainui Road Bridge, 1984)

Waka at the Kaitotehe Mission & school near Taupiri which Rev Ashwell began setting up in 1839

A horse can also be seen grazing between the two groups of people

Waka Tāhere Tikitiki & a smaller canoe which holds King Mahuta Te Wherowhero's band, 1898

During Waikato War (1863-64), HMS Pioneer & other paddle-steamer gunboats were used with coal from the Kupakupa Mine

Post-Waikato War, riverboats continued to be used as passenger transport

(Image: 1875 - The 'Bluenose' & 'Lily' riverboats)

By Dec 1864, the Waikato Steam Navigation Company was operating on the Waikato River transporting passengers & cargo

The Company built a wharf on the east side of the river

Paddlesteamer "Freetrader", c.1910s

The Freetrader was built in 1890 as a barge & was later equipped with the stern paddle wheel from the steamer Rangiriri

River steamer & dinghy moored at Huntly (no date)

Huntly Presbyterian Sunday School children about to return home after a picnic to Ngāruawāhia, 1921

The paddlesteamer Manuwai, 1925

The paddlesteamer Rawhiti, 1925

Passengers on the deck of Rawhiti II on a voyage to Port Waikato, 1926

(The punt mid-stream, 1901)

(Image: 1911)

Going for a row on the Waikato River at Huntly, 1901

View of a waka & a rowboat, 1902

When the Waikato River flooded in 1907, refugees from Huntly West crossed over by boats to Huntly East

The punt & a motorboat, 1910

Trout-fishing from a boat at Huntly, 1916

During 1911-15, a railway & traffic bridge was constructed over the Waikato River at Huntly

A public ceremony was held on Labour Day 1911 to sink the first pile for the bridge

(Image: 1918)

On 13 Aug 1877, Huntly Railway Station opened on North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) railway line in Huntly East

Enlarged 1883 with large waiting room, ladies' room, lamp & luggage room, & Post & Telegraph Office. (Image: 1899)

The new rail/traffic bridge gave more access to coal on Huntly's west bank & mining settlements were established

Miners on the Taupiri Mines Company's train travelling to the Rotowaro Mine, 1920

Early forms of road transport in Huntly included horse-drawn carts

(Image: Family in a horse-drawn cart, 1904)

Horse & carriage

(Image: Two-horse carriage standing outside the Post Office, c.1910s)

Motor cars

Haines' motor car outside the Huntly Hotel was the first car owned in the Waikato (Image: 1902)

Tainui Bridge being built

(Image: 13 March 1958)

The Tainui Bridge provides vehicular access between Huntly West & Huntly East

(Image, 1963)

The Tainui Bridge also provides pedestrian access

The first bridge that opened in 1915 became rail only & a footbridge was attached

(Image: Level crossing at Huntly rail bridge over the Waikato River, 1972-1976)

The Tainui Bridge provides key road access to the Huntly Power Station which was built from 1973-1983

The Tainui Bridge helps to link Huntly West with Huntly East's Main Street & SH1 (Waikato Expressway)

(Image: Main Street, 2021)