Early history

Maratoto is a Māori word meaning "the rock of blood". It refers to a Māori legend about a group of warriors who were cornered on a rocky pinnacle in the valley, and flung themselves over the bank to avoid being captured.^[2]

By the 19th century, Ngāti Tamaterā had established a pā on the banks of the Maratoto Stream. It was called Hikutaia, which translates as "the end of the tide".^[2]

European settlers arrived in the area in the mid-19th century, most of the from Ireland. A small settlement sprung up around the Pioneer Hotel, which provided accommodation and alcohol for gold-miners passing through by stage coach. Gum-diggers cleared much of the local Kauri forest, and a local butcher set up a shop inside the hollow interior of an enormous kauri stump.^[2]

A telegraph line was completed 1872, ending the need for messages to be couriered to other settlements.^[3]

A Englishman pig-hunter discovered gold in the area while wrestling a pig into the creek.^[2] Richard McBrinn made a further gold discovery in the area in 1987; the McBrinn Creek is named after him.^[4]

Many people came to the area to mine gold and silver, including unusual characters like the South American Black Doctor.^[2]

A New South Wales gold-mining syndicate operated a mining company in the valley between 1888 and 1891. Their find was credible, but it was processed at a loss due to the cost of developing the site.^[4]

An Auckland syndicated established a company n the valley in 1898, installing a 15 head stamp battery and cyanide plant. It received Government funding and crushed ore for neighbouring mines.^[4]

Modern history

The mine closed in 1927 and is now abandoned.^[4]

Rock-climbers began visiting the area in the 1970s, and climbing routes began to be permanently mapped in 1996.^[5]

Remnants of old mines, an old telephone line, and a fence from an old cattle holding pen can still be found in the valley.^[1]