Waingaro School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of.
Waingaro Hot Spring
Waingaro Hot Spring was closed in 2014, until improvements were made and it reopened in 2016. It has dilute alkaline NaCl-type,, thermal water flowing from early Jurassic basement rocks at about per minute, probably originating at least deep and sharing a source with Naike and Waikorea, as they all have similar chemical composition. In 1921 this description was given:
Waingaro/ on the coach-road from Ngaruawhahia to the west coast, has waters of the most strictly simple 'thermal' type, containing only 22 grains of solids to the gallon. It is not a 'spa,' though it is used locally and had at one time a great reputation among the Maoris. The outflow of water is very large and the temperature high. There is a large simple immersion bath, with hotel accommodation alongside. ANALYSIS Grains per gallon.
In 1942 a corrugated iron shelter, which had covered the spring on the northside of the road, was swept away by a flood. After that the hot water was piped under the road and the present complex of baths built.
Spring
Date sampled
TD°C
pH
Li
Na
K
Ca
Sr
Ba
B
HCO3
SiO2
SO4
F
Cl
I
ΔD ‰
δ18O ‰
T °C
Waingaro well
12/05/2005
54.7
9.2
0.05
79
0.73
1.2
0.005
0.0004
4.9
44
55
8.3
3.5
49
0.029
-31.5
-5.74
83
Waingaro Landing
The narrow, gravel road from Ohautira Rd to the boat ramp and whitebait stands at Waingaro Landing now sees little traffic, but was once much more important. Just south of the point where the Waingaro joins the Kerikeri River, there is a record of Waingaro Landing being used by Rev A N Brown in 1834 to travel from Bay of Islands to Kawhia. Little changed for another half century. About 1883 a Crown Grant of on the banks of the Waingaro stream was taken on by M. Barton or Patene, then Mr Clarke, then by Sam Picken. Most of it was in heavy bush. Clarke had started clearing it, employing Arthur Moon and Johnnie Douglas. Picken travelled to Huntly by train, crossing the Waikato by boat, then rode on a bridle track to Glen Afton and finally on a native track through heavy bush of rimu and matai on the hills, and kahikatea on the flats. Within a year the native track had been turned into a bridle track. Picken was joined by George Richards, Arthur Shilson, Ned Edmonds, Stevens, Arthur Richards and Pyne. The Crown then built a road from Ngāruawāhia to the landing. By 1893 most land had been bought, except at the Hot Springs on a 21-year lease to Sam Wilson, who built the hotel. Charles Sutton bought the steam launch 'Vesta', which could tow a punt from Raglan to Waingaro in one hour. An experiment with the 'Amateur' was unsuccessful; it took 3 hours. In 1896 the 'Vesta' was repaired and took on the work again. For almost two decades the landing became a popular route to Raglan, when Captain Coge ran the S.S. 'Maori' between Raglan and the landing from 1903. A coach from Ngāruawāhia brought mail and passengers. About 1903, the Ministry of Tourist and Health Resorts published these options for journeys from Auckland to Raglan:
Auckland to Ngāruawāhia, : Depart rail Auckland 10 a.m.
Arrive Ngāruawāhia, 12.58 p.m. 1st class 8/10, 2nd 5/9.
Ngāruawāhia to Waingaro,. Coach departs Tuesday and Friday, 1.15 p.m. arrives 4 p.m. 6/- single, 10/- return.
Waingaro to Raglan,. Oil launch Tuesday and Friday. 2/6 single, 4/- return.
* Raglan to Onehunga. N.S.S. Steamer weekly. 20/- single, 30/- return. Saloon.
* Onehunga to Auckland,. Rail frequently. First I/-, 2nd 9 pence.
** Raglan to Hamilton,. Coach M.W. and Fridays. Departs 7 a.m. Arrives 1.10 p.m.
** Hamilton to Raglan. Coach Tues., Thurs., and Saturdays. Depart Hamilton 9 a.m. Arrives 4 p.m. Single 12/-, return 20/-.
Coge soon gave up the boat service, but by 18 November 1904 the Raglan Chronicle was advertising for cargo for the launch 'Nita' after 7 local men formed the co-operative, Raglan Launch Co, to take over, with land agent, A. R. Langley, as secretary. With Mr B. Vercoe in charge, she continued trading until a fire in March, 1909, with Frank Charlton in charge. However, the fire seems to have been extinguished and the 'Nita' was later bought by Billy McQueen, who traded round the harbour till about 1920. From time to time the Post Office invited tenders to carry mail on the route. The County Council agreed to extend the shed and wharf in 1910, though not buy extra land for it. The work was completed in 1913. The road to the landing was still being improved in 1905, when £100 was allocated. After 1920 the mail coach was replaced by a cream truck run by Bob Gibb on a Ngāruawāhia-Te Ākau mail run.
