After a long 4 month journey from their BOHEMIAN Homeland - (then part of the Austrian Empire - now Czech Republic), the 1st group of 83 immigrants bound for Puhoi reached Auckland, New Zealand on the sailing vessel 'War Spirit'. Of these, 33 were children including 2 babies born on the voyage out.

Two days later on 29th June 1863, they were taken further north on a sailing cutter and then landed by Maori canoe onto the banks of the Puhoi River.

Little preparation had been made for their arrival. The isolation and wilderness were not what had been expected and they were totally exhausted but there was no going back.

Further groups of Bohemians followed and contact was made with mainly English, Irish and Scottish settlers on adjoining blocks.

By the sheer hard work and determination of them all, Puhoi survived and eventually prospered. It remains a small village and retains much of it's special character.

Puhoi's 50th Anniversary almost 100 years ago

Puhoi Cemetery