Pokeno STT INP

South of Auckland is Pokeno, an important military headquarters during the New Zealand Wars of the 19th century. Once on a main arterial route, a new motorway constructed in 1992 diverted cars – and people’s attention – from it.
Today Pokeno is home to just over 650 residents and 'New Zealand’s finest 100% home-grown pork'. There is a small butchery where you can test the claim to fame with some manuka-smoked bacon hocks.
Sunday is a busy time for Pokeno, with a bustling antiques and collectables market. Across the road is a café with a cute courtyard for a toasted cheese sandwich and a milkshake. An afternoon treat can be found in a good old-fashioned dairy with quite possibly the largest ice cream in a cone in the country.
Nearby residential property developments look promising for Pokeno; the stage is set for a strong revival, putting the town back on the road map.

Reported for our AA Directions Summer 2023 issue

More information

Click here for more NZ travel stories.

New! Our navigation has changed.

Use this button to access the site content.

 |  Learn more

×