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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
[Moawhango]
Situate in the Erewhon Riding of the County of Hawkes Bay, while a part of the newly-constituted Electoral District of Rangitikei, Moawhango is eighty-nine miles from Napier, and ninety-nine from Wanganui. The direct road from Wanganui to Napier, which has lately become very popular as a tourist route, passes through that settlement, which lies five miles to the eastward of the coach road to Tokaanu and the Hot Lakes, the surveyed line for the Main Trunk Railway being four miles further to the west. This small township, which contained seventy-four inhabitants, as ascertained at the census of 1896, stands at an altitude of nearly 2000 feet above sea-level, and is frequently snow-clad during the winter. The Moawhango River, which crosses the road near the village, is safely forded by vehicles—save during rainy seasons—and pedestrians cross by a foot-bridge, provided by funds contributed by residents, and subsidised by the Government. The post-office, which is also an office for the issue of postal notes, is located at the leading store, mails leaving bi-weekly for Wanganui, and weekly for Napier. There is a weekly coach during the tourist season to and from Napier, via Kuripapanga, which communicates also with Pipiriki on the Wanganui River, the coaches between Ohingaiti, Tokaanu, and the Hot Lakes, running twice a-week. Many influential natives live in Moawhango and its vicinity—a large tract of open country, extending from Taupo to the Ruahine, and the Rangitikei River, and estimated to contain 20,000 acres of land, being owned by them.