The Stories of Franklin
A collection of tales from the people, places, and happenings that make Franklin tick. From local heroes and hidden gems to must-visit spots, makers, growers, and the everyday magic that makes this such a great place to live, work, and play — these are the stories that bring Franklin to life.
If you have a great idea for a story in Franklin, get in touch hello@franklinnz.com
Prodigious Son
At 19 I was skipping college to play Mario-Kart. At that age Logan Soole had done several years of community volunteering and been elected to the Franklin Local Board. Photo supplied by Logan Soole Even now, in my 50s, meeting the now 25-year-old on Zoom from the UK,...
Tipene: St. Stephens School
Nathan Durie and Yvette McCauseland-Durie have been described as a “power couple” in Māori Education. The husband and wife team founded Tū Toa school in Palmerston North in 2005 and later Manukura in 2013, and are now taking the plunge into reopening historic Tipene...
Clevedon Farmers Market
The Clevedon Farmers Market, a Sunday tradition, is a must-visit for food lovers seeking fresh, locally grown produce. With over 60 seasonal and permanent stalls offering everything from fresh vegetables to artisan products, the market also hosts Twilight Markets in...
Kitchen Consequential
Connie ClarksonFounder of The Kitchen Project The Kitchen Project is cooking up something special in Franklin. The initiative is helping local foodie entrepreneurs turn their passion into their profession. With a training base in Pukekohe, the project provides a tasty...
Give Us This Day Our Daily Goods
Travellers into Pukekohe might be forgiven for making a few false assumptions about this relaxed street side café. Firstly, if they were after some kind of greasy fry up, they wouldn’t be disappointed. Not because they’d get it, but because they’d get something much...
Waiuku, sounds good.
September 14th. Live music, like spring, brings renewal and fresh energy - encouraging us to get out of the house, shake off the winter blues, reconnect, and enjoy the vibe at the local.For a small but bustling town, Waiuku’s got plenty of this going on. On Sunday the...
Happy Trails
The Franklin region is well-endowed with tracks and trails for walkers and bikers and there are options for people of all fitness levels, abilities and interests. Andrew Sinclair of Franklin Active Trails shares some of his tips. While our National Parks draw the...
Manukau Heads Lighthouse
Standing proudly on the tip of the Āwhitu Peninsula, the Manukau Heads Lighthouse has guided ships safely into the harbour since 1874. One of New Zealand’s few remaining timber lighthouses, it marks both a historic and emotional point on Franklin’s rugged west coast....
Steel ‘n’ Wheels
Born in 2011 through the Waiuku Business & Development Association and local car clubs, Steel ’n’ Wheels quickly became a flagship celebration of Waiuku’s character. Rooted in the town’s connection to New Zealand Steel – an industry central to Waiuku’s growth and...
Ben Bayly
Ben Bayly, chef and creator of the award-winning Ahi in Auckland’s Commercial Bay, also cultivates a productive garden in Franklin, growing many ingredients for his restaurant. The Longkeeper onion, featured recently on a TV series, is one of the vegetables he often...
A Marriage of Past & Future
Nick Jones and Josephine Elworthy are staunch Clevedoners. Their work invigorates some of the village’s most historic buildings. It's a marriage of business nous, equestrian sport and unbreakable community spirit. Under the banner of Hololio - Hawaiian for running...
Cleared for Takeoff
How Ardmore is Powering Economic Growth in Franklin. Historical landmark, aviation icon, and growing commercial development, Ardmore Airport is undergoing a moment of exciting transition, growth and evolution. That’s par for the course though—since its inception in...
Paella Verduras
by Gautam Narayan Serves 2 - 4 What makes a great Paella? In Spain, Paella is a dish that awakens passions - Spaniards take pride in their national dish! They believe a great Paella has three requirements: 1. A short grain rice, preferably Spanish, sold under the...
A Land for Rovers
Meet Francis Hewitt. It feels like eyeballing the human embodiment of one of the machines he painstakingly restores, alongside his colleagues Mike Blake and Turoa Royal. He exudes the same robust confidence. It taps into a similar history of resilience and...
Past Glories You Can’t Look Past
Just out of his teens William Britton bought a vintage poster for $400, and sold it for $13,500 in the US. Already hooked on treasure hunting his way around New Zealand, he’d hit upon a career. William BrittonOwner of Salvage Place William’s not an antiques dealer,...
1 Roulston
Situated in Pukekohe, 1 Roulston began life in 1912 as home to Franklin’s first newspaper and has been serving the community ever since. Following a quick refresh by Eke Panuku, this character building continues its legacy, offering space to host events, gatherings,...
Ben Bayly’s French Onion Soup
From the kitchen of Origine, Ben Bayly's French onion soup recipe is a rich, flavourful broth that celebrates Franklin's world-famous longkeeper onion. Serves 4 Prep time 20 mins Cook time 1 hour 500 g oxtail 1 onion, sliced 1 carrot, grated 1/3 cup of celery, chopped...
Pukekohe
Pukekohe, the high street of Franklin, showcases a handful of beautifully restored historic buildings, now home to inviting eateries and unique spots that celebrate the town’s past.
Maraetai Beach
Tucked along Franklin’s eastern shoreline, Maraetai is a seaside township with a charm all its own. Its name, meaning “meeting place by the sea,” reflects its history as a gathering point, where rolling hills meet sheltered bays. With sweeping views across the Hauraki...
Nourishing Communities
Gautam NarayanOwner of Nourish Holistic Nutrition Among the dairy fields of Waiuku, Gautam Narayan has created a holistic health oasis. And it’s open to all. Just meeting Gautam is nourishing. From that first moment, it’s clear this is a man in service to those around...
Duder Regional Park
On Franklin’s eastern edge, Duder Regional Park stretches out into the Hauraki Gulf, a peninsula surrounded by sea and sky. It’s the first part of the region to greet each sunrise, as the day breaks across the water and the land glows gold. For early walkers, it feels...
Grow you good thing
The area between metropolitan Auckland and the Waikato plains has long served as a food basket: Māori valued the plentiful natural resources and proximity to trading routes; European settlers cleared the land for agriculture; and market gardeners (many of them of...
Paerata Rise
Paerata Rise is a thoughtfully planned township near Pukekohe, blending Franklin's rural charm with a new urban townscape. Designed for diverse lifestyles, it features quality homes, outdoor spaces, schools, and amenities such as retail precinct and transport hub. The...
My Franklin – Bill Cashmore
Former Auckland Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore was born and bred in Franklin District, with his family having been there since the late 1800s as sheep and beef farmers in the Hunua Ranges. Bill has lived on the east coast of the Franklin Ward all of his life and agreed to...
Restoring Waiuku’s Estuary
It all started - unofficially - back in 2009 when Waiuku resident Ian Scobie was having trouble accessing the estuary from his house because of the proliferation of mangroves. “I have to be a bit careful here, but he unofficially took some out,” says Tony Ogilvie, who...
Waiuku Township
Nestled between Manukau Harbour and Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku (meaning "brown water") is a quirky township with a rich history. The Kentish Hotel, Waiuku's social focal point, is New Zealand's longest-standing tavern, and its walls are decorated in its lore.
Wairoa River
The Wairoa River snakes its way across the wild, volcanic landscape of the Hunua Ranges.
In Search of the Perfect Mozzarella
New Zealand's only locally produced buffalo cheese is made right here in Franklin. Helen and Richard Dorresteyne, founders of the Clevedon Farmers Market, are not you every-day run of the mill kind of people. To achieve what they have with the farmers market, and then...
A taste of Pukekohe.
The Month of September. There’s no doubt that in Franklin we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat and drink, and Pukekohe is no exception.What better way to explore some of the best in town than with Pukekohe on a Platter.For the month of September,...
Artist in the Orchard
In the heart of Franklin, artist Katie Blundell is cultivating a flourishing artistic practice. Her painted relief works—carved and coloured by hand with meticulous care—explore the collective human experience, the natural environment, and her deep-rooted connections...
Franklin’s Top Spots
1. Maraetai Beach My favourite beach in Franklin (not too far ahead of Karioitahi) where you can do everything from swim and relax to launching the boat. 2. Manukau Heads Lighthouse Located at the tip of the ancient Āwhitu Peninsula, the lighthouse gives amazing views...