South Waikato District
| South Waikato District | |
 | |
| Population: | 22,071 (territorial) (Statistics NZ, 2013) |
| Main town: | Tokoroa |
| Other towns: | Putaruru, Tirau, Arapuni, Atiamuri |
| Iwi territorial authority | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Raukawa Trust Board |
| Kaunihera Kaumātua: | George Deane (Chair) |
| Chairman: | John Edmonds |
| General Manager: | Dickie Farrar |
| Territorial authority | |
| Name: | South Waikato District Council |
| Mayor: | Jenny Shattock |
| Deputy Mayor: | Jeff Gash |
| Chief Executive: | Craig Hobbs |
| Extent: | S of Hamilton to N of Taupo; W of Rotorua to E of Otorohanga and Ruapehu |
| Land area: | 1,816.96 km² (701.53 sq mi) |
| Website: | http://www.southwaikato.govt.nz |
| Regional council | |
| Name: | Waikato Regional Council |
| Website: | http://www.ew.govt.nz |
The South Waikato District is a municipality in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located between the cities of Hamilton to the north, Rotorua to the east, Taupo to the south and Ruapehu District to the west.
The seat of the South Waikato District Council is at Tokoroa, the biggest town. The other main towns are Putaruru, Tirau and Arapuni.
As at the 2013 census, the district's usual resident count was 22,071, of whom 58% lived in Tokoroa. Putaruru's population was 3,777, and Tirau's was 690. The region's population decreased markedly during the 1990s, dropping over 4000 since the 1991 census.
Ngāti Raukawa[1] is the Maori tribe of the area and goes back 20–25 generations. There are 32 marae in the district, Papa te Aroha marae (Catholic Community) Aotearoa marae, Pikitu marae (Nga-Huri), Pōhara marae (Ngati Koroki), Whakaaratamaiti marae (Ngati Mahana), Mangakaretu marae (Ngati Ahuru) Ngatira marae (Ngati Ahuru) and Tarukenga marae (Ngati Te-Ngakau).Mokai marae (Ngati Te Kohera) Ongaroto marae (Ngati Whaita) Paparamu marae (Ngati Te Apunga) Te Ruapeka marae (Ngati Tukorehe) more.....
The district's main industries are forestry and timber production, however land previously in plantation forest is increasingly being converted to dairy production. Several hydroelectric projects are located at the district's western edge.
References
- ^ "Ngāti Raukawa". Te Ara.