Buckland is a small town in the Franklin ward of Auckland Regional Council, on the south-east side of Pukekohe, between Pukekohe and Tuakau, and on the northern boundary of Waikato District. It is part of the Pukekohe urban area.

Buckland is probably named after a local land owner. The 2010 publication, Place Names of New Zealand, says that was Alfred Buckland, but in 2017 the Specialist Built Heritage Unit of Auckland Council named William Thorne Buckland, brother of Alfred.

Buckland was largely covered by bush until it was cleared to make room for dairy farms. In 1892 a creamery was operating in Buckland.

The construction of a railway line in 1875 allowed for the expansion of the agriculture and horticulture industry in the area, as produce could be easily sent to Auckland.

St Paul's Church was constructed in 1900 following the relocation of St Andrew's Church in Pukekohe. It is considered a landmark for the local community and is still in use.

A Methodist Church was constructed later in 1904. In 1984 the Church was sold into private ownership and is now a private residence.

Following the First World War many immigrants arrived in Buckland from Britain. A similar pattern of immigration would follow the Second World War but with Dutch immigrants.

Originally only bridle trails connected Buckland with Pukekohe. Packhorses would deliver supplies from Drury.

Buckland had a railway station from 1875 to 1969.

The statistical area of Buckland, which includes rural land to the south and east of Pukekohe, Buckland covers 8.46 km (3.27 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,270 as of June 2023, with a population density of 150 people per km.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	969	—
2013	1,041	+1.03%
2018	1,173	+2.42%
Source:

Buckland had a population of 1,173 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 132 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 204 people (21.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 384 households, comprising 588 males and 585 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 40.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 246 people (21.0%) aged under 15 years, 222 (18.9%) aged 15 to 29, 528 (45.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (15.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 82.1% European/Pākehā, 16.1% Māori, 4.1% Pacific peoples, 10.0% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.2% had no religion, 33.8% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 2.6% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (16.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 183 (19.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 234 people (25.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 501 (54.0%) people were employed full-time, 153 (16.5%) were part-time, and 24 (2.6%) were unemployed.

Buckland School is a full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 239. The school opened in 1894.

Pukekohe Christian School is a private composite school (years 1–13) with a roll of 335. It is about 1.3 km northeast of Buckland.

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.

Buckland is also the name of small settlements east of Cambridge, in the Waikato region, and north east of Feilding.