Smack bang in the Hokianga is Rawene and one of the many historic buildings there is the Rawene Courthouse - classic bit of history, having been built here in 1876, to the plans of government architect William Clayton. It has been said that even after the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori controlled justice in Hokianga, and the building of this court may have marked a change.
As well as criminal courts, Maori land hearings took place here, and some proceedings to do with a civil disruption called the Hokianga Dog Tax Rebellion in 1898. This building also used to double as a Police Station and there is a separate lock up out the back. The building has moved neatly into retirement service as the town library.
Linking up with Weekend Reflections and The Weekend Roundup.
