Travel Guide Temuka

This city, known as Fisherman's Paradise or The Pottery Centre of the South, is very famous for its pottery and ceramics. In Maori, its name means "place of hot ovens" (Te Umu Kahu). The first European settled here in 1853 south of the river in Arowhenua - the current site of the last Maori community in the region.In 1859, 25 acres of land were purchased from the Maori to build the city of Temuka. However, since the site was frequently flooded, the city was transferred to the north of the river. The region's economy is based on agriculture and dairy farming.The town was the birthplace of Richard Pearse (1877-1953), who was the pioneer in aviation history, according to some. In 1903, he was the first man to fly, 9 months before the Wright brothers: on the road to Waitohi, you can see a replica of one of his'planes'where he started his first flights. Don't forget to visit Arowhenua Pa, a fortified Maori village built in 1600 by the Ngai Tahu. Timaru is only 21 km away.