The coastal region is largely rough hill country, known locally as the Hakarimata Range, though it is more gently undulating in the north, closer to the mouth of the Waikato River.

This region has a wet temperate climate, and the land is largely pastoral farmland created by European settlers draining the extensive natural swamps, although it also contains undrained peat swamp such as the 200 km2 (77 sq mi) peat dome south of Ngatea.

The upper reaches of the Waikato River are used for hydroelectricity, helped by several large artificial lakes in the region's south-east.

The climate is mild and temperate with moderate rainfall of 1,200 to 1,600 mm (47 to 63 in) per annum, with the higher western hills having the most rain.

Another distinctive feature is the low average wind speed in the interior basin due to the sheltering influence of the hills and mountains to the west and south-west.

Other major towns in the region are Tokoroa, Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Taupō with respective populations of 14,650, 14,150, 22,500 and 27,000.

This faster growth can be attributed to rapidly growing dairy and business services industries, facilitated by proximity to the Auckland city, the main international gateway for New Zealand.

In the Waikato the original English grasses used by earlier settlers – browntop, fescue and Yorkshire Fog – have been replaced with higher producing Italian ryegrass and nitrogen-fixing white clover.

[25] The Kinleith Mill south of Tokoroa processes wood from the surrounding forests into pulp and paper.

Before the arrival of Europeans, the Waikato contained the third most densely populated part of New Zealand, after Northland/Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.

During the latter stages of this volatile period, known as the Musket Wars (1807–1845), conflict led to a migration south to Taranaki and eventually Kapiti Island.

[26] Between 1840 and 1860 the CMS missionaries of the Anglican church assisted Waikato Māori in revolutionising their economy in the Kihikihi area by the introduction of such crops as peaches, maize and wheat.

There were mills at Aotea, Kaitotehe, Karakariki, Kihikihi, Kirikiriroa, Kohanga, Kopatauaki, Mahoe, Mangaharakeke, Mangapapa, Mangarewarewa, Mangatawhiri, Matamata pā, Maungakawa, Maungatautari,[27] Mohoaonui,[28] Otawhao, Patetere, Rangataiki,[27] Rangiaowhia,[29] Taupō, Te Kopua, Te Rore, Tireke, Tuakau, Waitetuna, Whaingaroa[27] and Whatawhata.

[30] The route used to travel to and from Auckland was by dray to the Puniu stream, along the Waipā River to its junction with the Waikato.

Maniapoto sold wheat, peaches, potatoes and other food to Auckland and bought back shirts, sugar, tobacco and rum.

They complained about the way they were treated in Auckland by traders but their chief complaint was that the government was underpaying them for land they were selling.

John Gorst, a well-educated government agent, reported significant numbers of half-caste children in the Waikato in the late 1850s.

However, in the Ngati Maniapoto iwi at least 7 Pakeha integrated successfully with the tribe from 1842, marrying Maori women.

The best known are William Searancke, who became an important government agent, and Frenchman Louis Hetet, who became a successful trader.

During 1863 and 1864 fighting occurred at Pukekohe East, Titi hill, Burtts Farm, Galloway Redoubt, Kiri Kiri, Martyn's Farm, Patumahoe, Rhodes Clearing, Williamson's Clearing, Otau, Camerontown, Kakaramea and Wairoa ranges (all Auckland), Meremere, Rangiriri, Ngāruawāhia, Rangiaowhia (southwest of Cambridge), Hairini Ridge and Ōrākau (near Kihikihi), all resulting in defeat for the Kingitanga forces.

Rewi's Last Stand, one of New Zealand's first motion pictures, in 1925, portrayed an entertaining, fictionalized version of the Ōrākau siege.

After the end of the war and the withdrawal of British and Australian troops, the region experienced a long period of economic recession after 1866.

Most Māori had moved to the King Country and European settlers were more attracted to the South Island with its large gold discovery in Otago and the more easily farmed Canterbury Plains.

The Waikato had poor land access and was not suitable for sheep farming which dominated livestock production in New Zealand until the 1890s invention of refrigeration.

Dairying and the completion of the main trunk railway line at the turn of the century lead to a small, steady increase in population.

After 1900, dairy production in the Waikato continued to grow, exporting butter and cheese mainly to Britain.

[44] The Waikato United Council, was formulated under the Local Government Act 1974, but due to objections excluded Thames/Coromandel district, though otherwise covered the present extent of the region.

[45] From 1987 it also included Thames-Coromandel District, Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Plains, Ohinemuri and Piako counties, and Morrinsville, Paeroa, Te Aroha and Waihi boroughs.

[52] In the 2010 local government elections, the Waikato Region had the country's lowest rate of returned votes.

Its origin is related to the mascot of a pantomime-like milking cow used in parades, public events and sports matches — particularly rugby, reflecting the importance of the dairy industry to the region.