Waipukurau

Waipukurau
Minor urban area
Waipukurau

Waipukurau's location within the North Island

Coordinates: 39°59.5′S 176°33.5′E / 39.9917°S 176.5583°E / -39.9917; 176.5583Coordinates: 39°59.5′S 176°33.5′E / 39.9917°S 176.5583°E / -39.9917; 176.5583
Country New Zealand
Region Hawke's Bay
Territorial authority Central Hawke's Bay District
Population (June 2016)[1]
 • Total 4,080
Postcode(s) 4200

Waipukurau is the largest town in the Central Hawke's Bay District on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on the banks of the Tukituki River, 7 kilometres south of Waipawa and 50 kilometres southwest of Hastings.

Origin and history

Maori

Central Hawkes Bay, where the town is located was settled by Te Aitanga a Whatonga, the desecendants of Whatonga, grandson of Toi Kairakau. These were the Ngati Tara and Rangitāne peoples. In the mid 1500s the Ngāti Kahungunu invaded the area from the north and in the subsequent fighting drove the Rangitāne south into the Tahoraiti area (Dannevirke). Warfare continued through the 1600s until the time of Te Rangikoianake. His first child Te Kikiri was adopted by the Ngai Toroiwaho to be their chief - he had mana over the Waipukurau district.[2]

Fighting broke out again in the 1800s at Mangatoetoe between Ngai Te Upokoiri and Ngāti Te Rangikoianake of Poukawa. Several of Te Rangikoianake's grand children were killed in this fight. Pareihe, a Ngati Rangikoianake Chief, avenged the defeat in a battle at Pukekaihau, Waipukurau after which a peace accord was made between the two tribes.[2]

Chief Justice William Martin

The accord was short lived with the death of Te Wanikau's brother-in-law (Chief of Ngai Te Upokoiri) prompting further conflict over the erection of rahui poles on Lake Poukawa, Ngati Rangikoianake's eel fishing area. The conflict, starting around 1819 and lasting till 1824 ended with the Ngati Rangikoianake and other local tribes evacuating the area and settling at Mahia. In the latter part of the 1820s Pareihe attacked the Ngai Te Upokoiri and regained the lands they had lost, with the Ngai Te Upokoiri taking refuge in the Manawatu. A peace accord was made between Pareihe and the Ngāti Tūwharetoa in the late 1830s. The Ngati Tuwharetoa had been allied with the Ngai Te Upokoiri.[2]

Within the current township is Pukekaihau hill, the site of the Māori pa, from which it gets its name. Waipukurau is said to mean the water of pukerau, wai being water and pukerau being a type of fungus. The pa was near the old Māori trail from the Manawatu Gorge and Hawkes Bay. The first Europeans who are known to have passed through the area were Bishop George Selwyn and Chief Justice Sir William Martin in November 1842 en route to Napier.[3]

European

Township about 1910

In December 1850 Donald McLean and the his party of Land Commissioners meet with the Central Hawkes Bay tribes to discuss purchasing a large block of land for European settlement. Negotiations proceeded through till 4 November 1851 when an area of land called the Waipukurau Block, some 279,000 acres, including the land the town is situated on was acquired from local Maori, led by Te Hapuku for ₤4,800.[2][4] In 1857 there was an accommodation house run by a Mr Aveson.[5] This was sold in October 1858 to George Lloyd and renamed Lloyds Hotel.[6] The Hotel was transferred again in 1861 becoming Moss's Inn or the Tavistock Hotel.[7][8] Horse racing started in 1859 with the first recorded meeting on 2 February.[9] The provincial council approved construction of roading from Waipukurau to Porongahau, a goal, and the appointment of a Constable at Waipukurau in 1859.[10] Roading to Forty-mile bush was not commenced until late 1867.[11]

The surrounding land was part of Mount Herbert station and owned by Henry Russell. By at least 1858 Waipukurau was used as a hub for mail delivery to the district, a sale yard for stock, and a court venue.[12][13] In 1863 land was offered to the Agricultural Society for a show.[14] By 1864 the Presbyterian's were looking to set up a church in Waipukurau.[15] There was a school in town by 1866 but this was closed when the building it used was destroyed by fire that year.[16] The school was replaced in August 1867 by new building which was to serve as both a church and a school.[17] The school had 9 pupils.[18]

The Waipukurau road bridge across the Tukituki River circa 1910

Cobb and Co commenced the first coach service to the town in October 1867 and Russell established a model village, which forms much of the present township.[19][20] A coach road to the south reached Norsewood in December 1873 and the Manawatu Gorge in February 1874.[21] Tenders for a coach service from Waipukurau to Palmerston North were called for in March.[22] The contract was awarded to Andrew Young, whose coach operated from Foxton. On his first journey from Foxton to Waipukurau his coach was intercepted by Alexander MacDonald as he was attempting to cross the Oroua River on former Ngāti Kauwhata land near Schultz's Hotel at Awahuri. MacDonald shot one of the lead horses preventing Young from continuing his journey.[23] MacDonald was a staunch supporter of the Ngāti Kauwhata and had been seeking redress for the dispossession of the tribe from its land on 15 December 1866. MacDonald was imprisoned for three months because of this action, but his action did result in the tribe regaining some 6,200 acres of its land.[24]

In October 1867 a dispute broke out between the residents of Waipukurau and the neighbouring township of Waipawa over the location of a telegraph station.[25] The Provincial Council favoured Waipawa as the location.[26] However, the Government's Telegraph Department preferred Waipukurau due its slightly more central location.[27] The office was opened on 9 June 1868.[28] Several weeks later on 22 June Frederick Christian Schäfer, passed through the town. Schäfer was a global traveller from Carlhafen in Hesse-Cassel who had walked through most of Europe, Palastine, two thirds of the way across the United States, Australia, Japan, China, Batavia, and Sumatra. He walked from Wellington to Waipukurau in 18 days.[29][30]

One of the first sheep shearing competitions in New Zealand took place at Waipukurau in January 1868. Its purpose was to improve the quality of shearing,[31] As a local response to Te Kooti's escape and conflict on the East Coast, a stockade was erected in late 1869.[32]

In November 1869 a Methodist Church was formed in the town.[33] A boiling down works was constructed in March 1870, the same time a brewery was proposed and a flax mill opened.[34]

Construction of a railway from Napier to Waipukurau commenced in 1872. The target was to complete the line by September 1873.[35] This was not achieved and the line to Waipukurau was opened just three days after Waipawa on 1 September 1876. The link to Palmerston North was not completed until 9 March 1891 due in part to the more difficult country and the impact of the Long Depression.[36]

Geography

The epicenter of the devastating 1863 Hawke's Bay earthquake was located just outside Waipukurau, causing moderate to major damage across central New Zealand.[37]

Demographics

It has a population of 4,080 (June 2016)[1]. It had a population of 3,741 as at the 2013 census, which was a decrease of 264 (6.6%) since the 2006 census.[38]

Waipukurau - View from Pukeora

In December 1858 Waipukurau census area had 243 males and 73 females - a total population of 316. 1,441 acres of land were fenced or cultivated with 95 horses, 364 cattle, and 20,365 sheep. There were also 4 goats and 61 pigs.[39]

Employment

The town is a farming based community and provides dairy, fruit, vegetable and meat exports. Most employment is seasonal related, dependent on surrounding local agricultural and horticultural industries.

Through the 1940s-1970s one of the town's main businesses was Denne Bros/Peter Pan Frozen Foods, well known throughout the country for their ice cream brand. The two factories were considered local landmarks. The company was the main employer of Waipukurau, as well the nearby township Waipawa in the 1950s and 1960s.

Climate

Climate data for Waipukurau
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 23
(74)		 24
(75)		 22
(71)		 18
(65)		 15
(59)		 13
(55)		 12
(54)		 13
(55)		 16
(60)		 17
(63)		 20
(68)		 22
(72)		 18
(64)
Average low °C (°F) 11
(52)		 12
(53)		 10
(50)		 8
(46)		 6
(42)		 3
(38)		 2
(36)		 3
(38)		 5
(41)		 7
(44)		 8
(47)		 10
(50)		 7
(45)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 74
(2.9)		 71
(2.8)		 46
(1.8)		 58
(2.3)		 91
(3.6)		 81
(3.2)		 79
(3.1)		 71
(2.8)		 53
(2.1)		 53
(2.1)		 50
(2)		 58
(2.3)		 790
(31)
Source: Weatherbase[40]

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2016 (provisional)". Statistics New Zealand. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016. For urban areas, "Subnational population estimates (UA, AU), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996, 2001, 2006-16 (2017 boundary)". Statistics New Zealand. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Aramoana Beach, Historical and Archaeological Report, Patrick Parsons, Central Hawkes Bay District Council, January 2001 - Waipukurau Library copy
  3. ↑ Waipukurau, An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 1966, AW Reed and Co
  4. ↑ Parliamentary Papers. Correspondence relative to land purchases, District of Napier, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 316, 16 September 1862, Page 2 retrieved 18 December 2015
  5. ↑ Open column, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 9, 21 November 1857, Page 3 retrieved 17 December 2015
  6. ↑ Page 2 Advertisements Column 1, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 58, 30 October 1858, Page 2 retrieved 17 December 2015
  7. ↑ Page 1 Advertisements Column 4, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 159, 6 October 1860, Page 1 retrieved 17 December 2015
  8. ↑ Local Intelligence, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 166, 24 November 1860, Page 5 retrieved 17 December 2015
  9. ↑ Waipukurau reces, 1859, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 74, 19 February 1859, Page 3 retrieved 17 December 2015
  10. ↑ Thursday, May 12, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 87, 21 May 1859, Page 3 retrieved 17 December 2015
  11. ↑ Provincial Council, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 887, 26 October 1867, Page 2 retrieved 21 December 2015
  12. ↑ Local Intelligence, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 42, 10 July 1858, Page 2 retrieved 17 December 2015
  13. ↑ Port Napier, Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1183, 29 October 1858, Page 2 retrieved 17 December 2015
  14. ↑ Editorial, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 371, 25 March 1863, Page 2 retrieved 18 December 2015
  15. ↑ General assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 544, 8 November 1864, Page 3
  16. ↑ Education, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 819, 19 January 1867, Page 4 retrieved 21 December 2015
  17. ↑ Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 868, 20 August 1867, Page 2
  18. ↑ Report on education, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 935, 18 April 1868, Page 3 retrieved 21 December 2015
  19. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 881, 5 October 1867, Page 2 retrieved 21 December 2015
  20. ↑ http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=2R32 H.R.Russell retrieved 17 December 2015
  21. ↑ Editorial, Wairarapa Standard, Volume 2, Issue 145, 28 January 1874, Page 2 retrieved 22 December 2015
  22. ↑ Wairarapa, Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4058, 20 March 1874, Page 3
  23. ↑ Attack on the Napier coach, Evening Post, Volume X, Issue 62, 1 May 1874, Page 2 retrieved 22 December 2015
  24. ↑ Cultural impact assessment of the Feilding sewage treatment plant discharges upon the cultural values of Ngāti Kauwhata, Rauhuia Environmental Services, Te Maru o Ruahine Trust and Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngāti Kawhata, 9 November 2012, page 24
  25. ↑ Letters to the Editor, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 886, 22 October 1867, Page 3
  26. ↑ Provincial Council Wednesday, 15th October, Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume I, Issue 44, 28 October 1867, Page 266
  27. ↑ Waipawa, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 916, 11 February 1868, Page 2 retrieved 21 December 2015
  28. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 950, 9 June 1868, Page 2 retrieved 21 December 2015
  29. ↑ Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 955, 27 June 1868, Page 3 retrieved 21 December 2015
  30. ↑ Mr Christian Frederick Schafer, Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 88, 27 May 1868, Page 2
  31. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 910, 18 January 1868, Page 2 retrieved 21 December 2015
  32. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1090, 8 October 1869, Page 2
  33. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1101, 16 November 1869, Page 3 retrieved 22 December 2015
  34. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 14, Issue 1131, 1 March 1870, Page 5
  35. ↑ Parliamentary, New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2724, 21 October 1872, Page 3
  36. ↑ John Yonge (editor), New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas, 4th edition (Exeter: Quail Map Company, 1993), 13.
  37. ↑ http://wildland.owdjim.gen.nz/?p=85
  38. ↑ 2013 Census QuickStats about a place:Waipukurau
  39. ↑ Untitled, Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 72, 5 February 1859, Page 2 retrieved 17 December 2015
  40. ↑ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Waipukurau, New Zealand". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Wellington Archbishop 'humbled' and surprised by cardinal appointment," ONE News, 5 January 2015 (see video) (Retrieved 6 January 2015)
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