lights inside. Hospital Kawhia hospital overlooked the town, on the site of Te Puru pa, which became the Armed Constabulary redoubt in 1863. Like the County Office, the hospital was also designed by Warren and Blechynden and opened in 1918. It was still a cottage hospital in 1948, but had become a maternity hospital by 1959 and closed in March 1967. Education Kawhia School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school. It is a decile 1 school with a roll of as of Notable people Te Rangihaeata, chief, born about 1780 John Kent, European trader, 1820s–1830s John Whiteley, Cort and Annie Jane Schnackenberg, missionaries Hoana Riutoto, signatory of Treaty of Waitangi Jim Rukutai, rugby player, born about 1877 Mary Reidy, sister at Kawhia Hospital 1921-1947 Carole Shepheard (born 1945), artist See also SH31 Kairuku waewaeroa, extinct giant penguin References External links 1911 map of Kawhia County Ōtorohanga District Geography of Waikato Ports and harbours of New Zealand Kauri gum