Takapau

Coordinates: 40°02′S 176°21′E / 40.033°S 176.350°E / -40.033; 176.350
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Takapau
Rural community
Takapau in 1958
Takapau in 1958
Map
Coordinates: 40°02′S 176°21′E / 40.033°S 176.350°E / -40.033; 176.350
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay
Territorial authorityCentral Hawke's Bay District
WardAramoana-Ruahine
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityCentral Hawke's Bay District Council
 • Regional councilHawke's Bay Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total3.18 km2 (1.23 sq mi)
Elevation
235 m (771 ft)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total680
 • Density210/km2 (550/sq mi)

Takapau is a small rural community in the Central Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipukurau, off State Highway 2, and has a population of more than 500.[3]

The original township was founded in 1876 by farmer Sydney Johnston from Oruawharo station. Johnston's family donated land for a school and churches, and built the local library, public hall and, later, Plunket rooms. Many streets are named after members of the family.[3]

Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry, and the community takes its name from the flax that grew in the expansive Takapau plains. The Māori word translates literally as "mat" or "carpet".[3]

The largest business in Takapau is now the Silverfern Farms meat-processing plant, founded by the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Meat Company in 1981. Kintail Honey, one of country's largest honey-packing and beekeeping operations, is also based in the town.[3]

There are two schools in Takapau. The Trappist monastery, the Southern Star Abbey, is also located nearby.

Demographics[edit]

Statistics New Zealand describes Takapau as a rural settlement, which covers 3.18 km2 (1.23 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 680 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 214 people per km2. It is part of the larger Makaretu statistical area.[4]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006516—    
2013525+0.25%
2018597+2.60%
Source: [5]

Takapau had a population of 597 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 72 people (13.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 81 people (15.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 216 households, comprising 309 males and 288 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female, with 126 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 102 (17.1%) aged 15 to 29, 261 (43.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 71.9% European/Pākehā, 41.7% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 3.0% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.8% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, 4.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 1.5% were Buddhist and 2.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (7.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 150 (31.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 24 people (5.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 234 (49.7%) people were employed full-time, 51 (10.8%) were part-time, and 18 (3.8%) were unemployed.[5]

Marae[edit]

The local Rongo o Tahu Marae is a tribal meeting ground for the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāi Toroiwaho.[6][7]

Education[edit]

Takapau School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school,[8][9] with a roll of 121 as of February 2024.[10][11] The school opened in 1879.[12]

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Takapau is a Year 1–8 is a co-educational state Kura Kaupapa Māori school,[13] with a roll of 23 as of February 2024.[10][14] The school opened in 1994.[15]

Railway station[edit]

J Class loco at Takapau June 1901[16]

Takapau had a railway station from 12 March 1877 to 27 September 1981.[17] It was the terminus of the line from Spit for 10 months, until 25 January 1878, when the extension to Kopua opened.[18] Takapau at that time was on the northern edge of the Seventy Mile Bush.[19]

Edmund Allan and Samuel[20] Kingstreet[21] had a £14,100 contract to build the 14 mi (23 km) extension of the Napier to Waipukurau railway south to Takapau.[22] They built a 5th class station in 1875 and Donald McLeod, a Waipukurau carpenter,[23] built a goods shed and platform in 1877. Initially, only one train a day ran from Takapau.[24] In 1890 there were two trains a day.[25] There was a post office at the station from 1887 to 1911. By 1896 there were 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) and 40 ft (12 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) goods sheds and also a cart approach, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 24 wagons, extended to 55 in 1911 and further extended in 1940. In 1905 a verandah was added and the platform extended. Electric lights were installed in 1921. Railway houses were built in 1928 and 1946.[17]

On 27 September 1981[17] the old station closed and a new station[16] and loop line opened near Oruawharo, 3.78 km (2.35 mi)[26] to the east.[27] The loop is still in use, with sidings linking to the Silver Fern Farms works and a platform and shelter remain,[28] which appear weed-grown in a 2015 photo.[29] There has been no regular passenger train since at least 1995.[30] There is now only a single line passing through the original Takapau station site.[31]

There was also a passing loop at Whenuahou, 4 mi 42 ch (7.3 km) south of Takapau, which was originally used for construction of the viaduct to the south.[16]

  Former adjoining stations  
Kopua
Line open, station closed
9.36 km (5.82 mi) 		  Palmerston North–Gisborne Line   Oruawharo
Line open, station closed
4.7 km (2.9 mi)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ^ a b c d Pollock, Kerryn. "Takapau". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  4. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Makaretu
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7016705, 7016706, 7016708 and 7016709.
  6. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  7. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  8. ^ "Official School Website". takapau.school.nz.
  9. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  10. ^ a b "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  12. ^ "Takapau Primary School : 125th Jubilee". Auckland Museum. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  14. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  15. ^ "Hītori". Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Takapau. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Wheeler, Thomas S (1994). "All Aboard the Train" (PDF).
  17. ^ a b c "Station Archive". NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  18. ^ "OUR HOME LETTER. HAWKE'S BAY HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 February 1878. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  19. ^ "NAPIER AND TAKAPAU RAILWAY. HAWKE'S BAY HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 14 March 1877. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Family Notices". South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900). 16 May 1887. p. 3. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  21. ^ "OBITUARY. OAMARU MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 20 December 1909. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Telegraphic Intelligence. HAWKE'S BAY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 21 April 1874. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Personal Items. WAIPAWA MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 25 June 1908. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  24. ^ "HAWKE'S BAY HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 April 1877. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  25. ^ "TIME TABLE N. Z. RAILWAYS. WAIPAWA MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 March 1890. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  26. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  27. ^ "1:50000 map Sheet: U23 Dannevirke". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1985. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  28. ^ "465 Oruawharo Rd". Google Maps. December 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  29. ^ Anthony 851 (25 January 2015), Takapau Railway Station., retrieved 3 September 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ 23 April 1995 Bay Express timetable.
  31. ^ "4 Takapau-Ormondville Rd". Google Maps. July 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
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