Stockade Hill, Howick

Stockade Hill was the location of the stockade built to protect Howick, New Zealand and its population from Māori during the New Zealand Land Wars. It is located on the main road into Howick. Howick's war memorial is located in the centre of the remains of the stockade's earthworks which are readily visible today.

History
The stockade was probably built in 1862, for defence of homesteaders against the perceived Maori threat during the New Zealand Land Wars. The precise construction of the stockade is not known, but it was probably constructed of loop holed sheets of iron surmounting a ditch and bank, and enclosed barracks for regular troops. Women and children slept here at night for several weeks in 1863 when there was fear of attack during the Land Wars. Bavarian mercenaries stationed here in 1863 erected a Christmas tree, believed to be the first in New Zealand, and sang carols.

21st century
To the south of the hill on the main road can be seen the original concrete road that ran all the way from Howick to Panmure, thus allowing much shorter travel times between Howick and Auckland.

Until recently the hill had two large concrete water tanks providing water to Howick. These have now been removed. Each year the ANZAC Day (25 April) parade ends at the top of the hill, where a service is held.

At the centre of the old Stockade, which is now a public park in which the stockad's perimeter earthworks are early visible, is the Howick War Memorial, which was unveiled on 13 January 1921.