There are six or seven small scoria cones around Puketona, one of which was host to Puketona Pā in the 18th century. Charles Darwin made observations of these cones in December 1835. The cones have been quarried since the 1950s.
Demographics
The statistical area of Puketona-Waitangi, which at 156 square kilometres is much larger than this locality, had a population of 1,335 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 195 people since the 2013 census, and an increase of 228 people since the 2006 census. There were 522 households. There were 705 males and 633 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female. Of the total population, 231 people were aged up to 15 years, 180 were 15 to 29, 627 were 30 to 64, and 300 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding. Ethnicities were 85.6% European/Pākehā, 24.9% Māori, 0.9% Pacific peoples, 2.5% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.1, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.7% had no religion, 29.0% were Christian, and 5.2% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 192 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 171 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,900. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 528 people were employed full-time, 183 were part-time, and 33 were unemployed.
History
Puketona was a Pā and the site of the battle of Taumataiwi or Wai-whariki between Ngāti Maru and Ngāti Rangi of Ngāpuhi in about 1793. It was part of a purchase of about of land by Henry Williams on 28 May 1839, from Hōne Heke and 30 other Māori people. He had the property taken care of by shepherds from 1840. One of these was murdered, and the case was reported as the first case of murder dealt with under British justice in New Zealand. In 1851 he transferred the property to his son Edward Marsh Williams, who built a house there in 1860 or 1861, and lived there until 1881. The house, now known as Choat House, is listed as a Category 1Historic Place. The road between Paihia and Pakaraka, passing through Puketona, was sealed from 1939, although the quality of the new road appears to have been lacking. Electricity was first supplied to the area in the mid 1940s.
