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Ngaruawahia is home to the Maori King Movement . The residence of the Maori King or Queen is located at the National Marae of Turangawaewae on the banks of the Waikato River.

Despite the (obvious) repeated claim that the name means The two rivers, Ngaruawahia means break open the food pits in the Maori language, a name which is connected with the breaking open of covered food-pits during ceremonial visits. During the Maori Wars the town was known as Newcastle.