TUAKAU Tuakau is a thriving country community, less than 30 minutes from Auckland. Tuakau is located 50kms south west of Auckland and is ‘off’ the main highway routes. Tuakau is a small town that services a rural community of the Franklin District. Unlike Pukekohe and Waiuku, Tuakau is not backed by strong elements of wealth. That said, the community is clearly proud of what they have developed. Tuakau has a museum that is open at weekend, a number of churches plus the traditional facilities. There are the beginnings of some new developments that suggest, given lower housing costs, the town is being discovered and urbanized. The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees of New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook. The main primary school is Tuakau Primary, where the late Sir Edmund Hillary was educated.