Te Kuiti

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Te Kuiti
Minor urban area
Te Kuiti is located in North Island
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti's location within the North Island
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country New Zealand
Region Waikato
Territorial authority Waitomo District
Population (June 2015 estimate)[1]
 • Total 4,560
Postcode(s) 3910

Te Kuiti is a small town in the north of the King Country region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 80 km south of Hamilton.

At the 2001 census it had a resident population of 4,374, a decrease of 5.1% since 1991. The town promotes itself as the sheep shearing capital of the world and is host to the annual New Zealand National Shearing Championships.

Location

Te Kuiti is approximately 80 km south of Hamilton and 19 km south-east of Waitomo. The area around Te Kuiti, commonly known as the King Country, gives its name to the Heartland Championship rugby team based in Te Kuiti.

History

Te Kuiti is the Maori name given to the area. In its original form of "Te Kuititanga", it literally means "the valley", "the squeezing in" or "the narrowing".[2]

Tourism

Te Kuiti Rail Station
File:Meadsville aka Te Kuiti.JPG
During Rugby World Cup 2011, Te Kuiti capitalised on its famous resident, All Black legend Sir Colin Meads, and briefly renamed itself Meadsville.

The "Shearing Capital of the World" contains the world's largest shearer, seven metres high. On 1 April 2006 the largest sheep show in the world took place here, with more than 2000 sheep.[3]

File:Te kuiti shearer statue.jpg
Statue celebrating the shearing industry in Te Kuiti
File:Te kuiti nz.jpg
Te Kuiti viewed from the south-west as SH3 climbs out of the town.

The carved Te Tokanganui-A-Noho Meeting House was gifted to the local Maori people (Ngāti Maniapoto) by Te Kooti, the most famous Maori Rebel leader of the 19th century. He was given sanctuary by the Chiefs of Maniapoto against the white colonial Government of New Zealnd and under Maniapoto's protection carved one of the most famous and important late 19th century spiritral house in the north island.(as mentioned above). This House is central to Te kuiti's historical foundation, also referred to as the epicenter of the Rohe Pōtae.. "King Country"...In 1881 the last frontier was open to colonial settlers.

The Tatsuno Japanese Garden is at the southern end of the main street.[4]

The Mangokewa reserve located 5 km south of Te Kuiti is a popular attraction for rock climbers, hikers, picnic goers, swimmers and trout fisherman in the region.[5]

A 'Revitalisation Project' for the NZHPT Category II listed[6] Te Kuiti railway station was started in 2014[7] to provide for arts and crafts groups, an education centre, youth projects, historical displays and a meeting room.[8] The Rail Heritage Trust describes the station as, "the finest remaining example of a standard class B station"[9]

Geography

Limestone deposits and water have created the Waitomo Caves, northwest of the town, one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist locations. The town itself is located in a valley with many rich limestone deposits.[10] The Manga-o-Kewa Stream runs through the valley and is a tributary of the Waipā River.[11] Te Kūiti's hinterland consist mainly of farmland and limestone quarries. The land surrounding Te Kūiti has steep hilly relief which reflects the nature of the North King Country region. The climate of Te Kūiti is wet during the winter and dry during the late summer with an average of 1,450mm of rainfall each year.[12]

Sport

Te Kuiti Albion FC play in the Deacon Shield tournament. They play their home games at Centennial Park where there is a small clubroom. The club colours are yellow and black striped shirts and black shorts.

Te Kuiti is the home of the Waitete Rugby Football Club.

Notable people

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References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. For urban areas, Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Te Kuiti in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand (1966)
  3. Television NZ News. 1 April 2006
  4. Te Kuiti in Tourism New Zealand's website, retrieved 31 January 2008
  5. Waitomo - parks
  6. NZHPT listing with photo
  7. Waitomo District Council - Railway Buildings Revitalisation Project
  8. Waitomo News 23 August 2012
  9. Rail Heritage Trust - Te Kuiti
  10. Limestone at Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
  11. Mangaokewa Stream Trout Fishing
  12. Environment Waikato Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  13. [1] Profile by Michael Bassett retrieved 31 January 2008
  14. kevin Boroevich at AllBlacks.com
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. [2] Listener retrieved 31 January 2008
  17. [3] The Melbourne Age, retrieved 31 January 2008
  18. Meads farm makes $1.4m at auction retrieved January 2008
  19. [4] bayofplentytimes.co.nz retrieved 31 January 2008

External links