Te Kuiti
| Te Kuiti | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
 Te Kuiti
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| Population: | 4,374 |
| Urban Area | |
|---|---|
| Extent: | |
| Territorial Authority | |
| Name: | Waitomo District Council |
| Mayor: | Brian Hanna |
| Extent: | |
| Land Area: | |
| Website: | http://www.waitomo.govt.nz |
| See also: | |
| Regional Council | |
| Name: | Environment Waikato |
| Website: | http://www.ew.govt.nz/ |
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato 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.
As of 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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".[1]
[edit] Tourism
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.[2]
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 Rohi potai.. "No White shell enter"...In 1881 the last frontier was open to colonial settlers.
The Tatsuno Japanese Garden is at the southern end of the main street.[3]
The Mangokewa reserve located 5 km south of Te Kuiti and is a popular attraction for rock climbers, hikers, picnic goers, swimmers and trout fisherman in the region.[5]
[edit] 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.[4] The Mangaokewa stream runs through the valley and is a tributary of the Waipa river.[5] Te Kuiti's hinterland consist mainly of farmland and limestone quarrys. The land surrounding Te Kuiti has steep hilly relief which reflects the nature of the North King Country region. The climate of Te Kuiti is wet during the winter and dry during the late summer with an average of 1,450mm of rainfall each year. [6]
[edit] 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 home of home of the Waitete Rugby Football Club.
[edit] Notable people
- Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jim Bolger held the local electorate of King Country.[6]
- All Black Kevin Boroevich[7]
- World Champion Sheep Shearer David Fagan[8]
- Tony Martin, Australian-based comedian and author, was born here.[9]
- All Black great Colin Meads called Te Kuiti home until November 2007. The auction of his farm caused nationwide interest.[10]
- Les Munro, the last surviving pilot from the Dambusters air raid, was mayor for some years and has a street named in his honour.[11]
- Author Ruth Park grew up here.
- Rob Waddell, Olympic gold-medalist rower, was born here. He is also known to have the fastest 2 kilometerergometer time in the CRASH-B Sprints held every year in Boston.
[edit] References
- ^ Te Kuiti in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand (1966)
- ^ Television NZ News. 1 April 2006
- ^ Te Kuiti in Tourism New Zealand's website, retrieved 31 January 2008
- ^ Limestone at Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
- ^ Mangaokewa Stream Trout Fishing
- ^ [1] Profile by Michael Bassett retrieved 31 January 2008
- ^ kevin Boroevich at AllBlacks.com
- ^ [2] Listener retrieved 31 January 2008
- ^ [3] The Melbourne Age, retrieved 31 January 2008
- ^ Meads farm makes $1.4m at auction retrieved January 2008
- ^ [4] bayofplentytimes.co.nz retrieved 31 January 2008
[edit] External links
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