Tokoroa
Tokoroa is the third largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the largest settlement in the South Waikato district and is located 30 kilometres southwest of Rotorua close to the foot of the Mamaku Ranges. Its population in 2006 census night was 15,063 (2001-14,025) (1996-15,096). Tokoroa is located mid-way between Taupo and Hamilton on State Highway One. The Kinleith Branch railway passes through Tokoroa. The other major settlements in the South Waikato District are Putaruru, Tirau and Arapuni.
History
Early history
It is traditionally recorded that one of the great fighting chiefs of the Ngati Kahupungapunga, Tokoroa by name, was slain by Ngati Raukawa during the siege of Pohuturoa, a high rocky eminence 27km south of Tokoroa on the main Taupo highway. It is probable that some early surveyor applied the name Tokoroa as a tribute to the old chief's memory. The name 'Tokoroa' first appeared on the early maps of the 1860's.
Growth
Tokoroa is one of the most recent towns in New Zealand history. It first developed around 1948, as a residential satellite for Kinleith Mill, New Zealand Forest Products Limited's timber, pulp and paper mill at Kinleith, 8km south of Tokoroa. In 1948 the town could boast a population of 1100. By the time NZFP began to downscale its operations at Kinleith in the early 1980's, Tokoroa had a population of 18,000 - just 2,000 below the number necessary to be proclaimed a city. In recent years however, the downscaling at Kinleith and in other industries has resulted in a drop in population, and only 14,175 people resided in Tokoroa as of 2001.
Geography
Location
Surrounding the township are many dairy farms and plantation forests. There are many scenic reserves around the town - the artificial lake 'Moana-Nui' (formed by damming the Matarawa Stream) lies within a popular recreational park. The lake has many ducks and contains much weed (partially due to its shallowness). Signs have been put up warning people not to swim in the water due to health concerns.
The town's location in the centre of the central North Island and its developed transportation network provide plenty of potential for warehousing and distribution. Tokoroa lies in the centre of a triangle made up of the popular tourism destinations of Rotorua, Waitomo and Taupo. There are about forty five lakes within a forty-five minute drive of Tokoroa.
One can travel to four major centres, each less than a one hour drive:
Township
As well as the central business district, the township is made up of many subdivisions, each built in different stages of the Kinleith complex's development. These subdivisions are:
- Parkdale
- Paraonui
- Papanui
- Matarawa
- Aotea
- Strathmore
- Amisfield
Many of the street names of the town were named by the first managing director of N.Z. Forest Products Ltd.(builders of the Kinleith mill), Sir David Henry (1888-1963), after places near his home town of Edinburgh, in Scotland. There is even a Sir David Henry primary school.
Secondary education facilities
Tokoroa has two high schools: Tokoroa High School and Forest View High School.
Industries
The main industries that support Tokoroa are forestry, centred on Kinleith Mill, and dairy farming. Recently, due to an increase in dairy prices, much of the surrounding forest is being converted into farmland.
Radio stations
There are two local radio stations in Tokoroa: Classic Hits Radio Forestland and Raukawa FM.
Graffiti and tagging
There is an anti-graffiti organisation in Tokoroa called South Waikato Safer Community Council (SWSCC). This community group has an 0800NOTAGS policy in place that responds to graffiti (tagging). A three pronged approach is used that is Pro-active, Re-active and Punitive in its strategy. Graffiti is an accepted form of art and is promoted under the Pro-active strategy.
People
Tokoroa is a multicultural town, with about 35% of the population being Maori and another 20% from the Pacific Islands (mainly the Cook Islands). The remaining 45% of the population is made up of people from dozens of countries around the world. Tokoroa has New Zealand's largest Pacific Island community outside of Auckland and Wellington.
Notable past residents
- Isaac Boss — Ireland rugby union international
- Pero Cameron — basketball player and Tall Black
- Quade Cooper - Australian rugby union player
- John Davies - teacher, public relations man, 1964 Tokyo Olympic bronze medal-winning athlete, and coach
- Ben Hana - Wellington identity: better known as Blanket Man
- Richard Kahui - Waikato rugby union player
- Walter Little — All Black
- Linn Lorkin - piano-based singer / songwriter / entertainer
- Keven Mealamu — All Black
- The Politicians - rock/new wave/reggae band formed in 1981
- Brian Tamaki, founder of Destiny Church