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A brief history of local government in the Franklin area

Bruce Ringer

• Introduction
• The highway districts
• The Counties Act 1876
• Pukekohe Town District
• Franklin County
• Boroughs and towns
• Talk of amalgamation
• The reforms of 1989
• Twilight of the boards
• Serving the people
• End of an era.

Introduction

When the Franklin District is dissolved in October 2010, it will bring to an end a tradition of independent local government in the area that goes back exactly 149 years.

The first local body ever established in the Franklin area (then usually known as the Lower Waikato) was the Pukekohe Highway District. This was formed by a group of Pukekohe East landowners in October 1861 under the Public Roads and Works Ordinance 1845.

This body lasted less than six months before being dissolved by the passage of the Auckland Provincial Highways Act 1862. This early example of local body reform led to the interruption of public works in the area and disputes over the payment of rates.

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