Kamo is a small township north of Whangarei, approximately five minutes drive from the Whangarei CBD. The name is a Māori word meaning "eyelash", but has also been said to mean "to bubble up", referring to hot springs in the area.Mt Parakiore is a volcanic dome rising 391 m to the northwest of the town. It is about one million years old, and part of the Harbour Fault which also includes Mt Hikurangi near Hikurangi, and Parahaki in Whangarei.

The population was 6,309 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 297 from 2001.

Kamo has the northernmost traffic lights in New Zealand on the intersection of Kamo, Station and 3 Mile Bush Roads.

History

Coal mining was an early industry in the area. Tunnelling first started in 1875, but it was not practical to carry the coal over the unmetalled roads to Whangarei wharf. In 1882 a short railway line was completed between Kamo and Whangarei to carry the coal. This was one of Northland's first railways. The railway still exists as part of the North Auckland Line. The mine closed in 1955, with the seamed worked out. Limonite was also quarried at Kamo.

A Wesleyan church was built in 1881, the Anglican All Saints Church in 1886, and a Presbyterian church in 1911. The first Roman Catholic church in the Whangarei area opened in Kamo about 1881.

Kamo became a Town District in 1884, at which point it had a population of 410, slightly smaller than Whangarei.

The town was known for its hot springs in the early 20th century, although several people died of suffocation in covered baths between 1901 and 1920. The iron-rich water was promoted as a health tonic.

In the early 1960s the boundaries of Whangarei city expanded to include Kamo.

Education

Kamo High School is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a roll of 1333. The school was established in 1960. Kamo Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 637. This school has a friendly rivalry with its two neighbouring schools, Whangarei Boys' High School and Whangarei Girls' High School.

Kamo Primary School, Totara Grove School and Hurupaki School are contributing primary (years 1-6) schools with rolls of 395,, 194 and 329 respectively.

Kamo Christian College is a state integrated composite (years 1-15) school with a roll of 191.

All these schools are coeducational. Totara Grove has a decile rating of 2. Hirupaki School has a decile of 8. The others all have a decile rating of 5.

Kamo Primary School opened in July 1873 in a private house. It had grown to 64 students by the time it moved into Kamo Public Hall in 1877. and it moved to its own building in 1881. In 1946, it moved to its present site. The older students were split to Kamo Intermediate in 1964. Kamo East School opened in 1966, and was later renamed to Totara Grove School.

Notable people

All Blacks Bunny Finlayson, Bevan Holmes and Ian Jones played for Kamo Rugby Club as did Auckland Blues player Justin Collins and Auckland Blues coach Peter Sloane.

Michael Hill (the jeweler) also attended Kamo High School.

Notes

External links

• Kamo High School website
• Kamo Intermediate website
• Kamo School website
• Kamo Christian College website