Levin, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
| Levin Taitoko |
|
| Population: | |
| Territorial Authority | |
| Horowhenua District | |
Manawatu-Wanganui
Manawatu-Wanganui is a region in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand, around the cities of Palmerston North and Whanganui. It is administered by the Horizons Regional Council.-Administration:...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua
Lake Horowhenua
Lake Horowhenua is located in the Horowhenua, an area of the southern Manawatu-Wanganui region in New Zealand's North Island. It covers an area of 3.9 square kilometres....
.
The town is on State Highway 1
State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
, and on the North Island Main Trunk with a station
Levin Railway Station
Levin Railway Station is a station on the North Island Main Trunk serving Levin in the Horowhenua District of New Zealand. It is served by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North and the Overlander long distance train between Wellington and...
used by the Capital Connection long distance commuter train between Wellington and Palmerston North and the Overlander long distance train between Wellington and Auckland.
The town was named after William Hort Levin, a director of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company. The name is a variation of the Jewish clan Levi
Levi
Levi/Levy was, according to the Book of Genesis, the third son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Levi ; however Peake's commentary suggests this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the Israelite...
. It is a shibboleth
Shibboleth
A shibboleth is a custom, principle, or belief distinguishing a particular class or group of people, especially a long-standing one regarded as outmoded or no longer important...
– unlike the usual pronunciation of the surname, stress is placed on the second syllable of the word. The name thus rhymes with the word 'begin'. The town's Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name is Taitoko.
Levin is a service centre for the surrounding rural area, and a centre of light manufacturing. According to the , the estimated resident population was . Over 20% of inhabitants were listed as over the age of 65, a considerably higher percentage than the national average. The town celebrated its centenary in 2006 and the bowls club celebrated theirs in 2007.
Notable people
- Jack AfamasagaJack AfamasagaJack Taualii Afamasaga is a New Zealand professional rugby league player of Samoan heritage, currently playing for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition. He also spent time playing with the Parramatta Eels, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and Cronulla Sharks, with stints in the...
- rugby league player - Paul BeresfordPaul BeresfordSir Alexander Paul Beresford is a British Conservative Party politician, practising dentist and the Member of Parliament for Mole Valley.-Early life:...
- British politician - Pat BoothPat BoothPat, Lady Lowe , also known as Pat Booth, was an English model, photographer and author of romantic fiction....
- journalist/writer - Suzy Clarkson - newsreader
- Kay CohenKay CohenKay Cohen is an Australian fashion designer and business woman based in Sydney, Australia...
- Fashion Designer - Joy CowleyJoy CowleyCassia "Joy" Cowley, DCNZM, OBE is a New Zealand author of novels, short stories, and children's fiction.Her first novel, Nest in a Fallen Tree , was converted into the 1971 film The Night Digger by Roald Dahl...
- novelist - Rebecca GibneyRebecca GibneyRebecca Catherine Gibney is a New Zealand born Australian actress.-Biography:Gibney was born the youngest of six children, and brought up in Wellington. She has said she wasn't so much funny as a "bit odd" as a child. "I was a bit like Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family...
- actress - Nathan GuyNathan GuyNathan Guy is a New Zealand politician, and currently serves as a member of Parliament representing the National Party.-Background:...
- politician - Nicky HagerNicky HagerNicky Hager is an author and investigative journalist born in Levin, New Zealand and now resides in Wellington. He generally writes about issues involving intelligence networks, environmental issues and politics. He has degrees in physics and philosophy...
- author - Darren HughesDarren HughesDarren Colyn Hughes was a New Zealand Member of Parliament between 2002 and 2011, first elected at the age of 24. He represented the Labour Party and was a Minister outside Cabinet in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand....
- politician - Dean KentDean KentDean Kent is a 3-time Olympic swimmer from New Zealand. He represented New Zealand at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics.At the 2004 Olympics, he set the New Zealand Records in the 200 and 400 IMs...
- Olympic and Commonwealth Games swimmer - Doug KiddDoug KiddSir Douglas Lorimer Kidd, KNZM is a former New Zealand politician. He was an MP from 1978 to 2002, representing the National Party. He served for three years as Speaker of the House of Representatives.-Early life:...
- politician - Matthew SaunoaMatthew SaunoaMatthew Saunoa is a New Zealand pop singer who rose to musical fame as the winner of the Third season of New Zealand Idol in 2006....
- New Zealand Idol winner 2006 - George SilkGeorge SilkGeorge Silk was born in New Zealand, and served as a photojournalist for Life for 30 years.Mr. Silk's career as a war photographer began in 1939, when he was a combat cameraman for the Australian government, covering action in the Middle East, North Africa and Greece...
- photographer - Carlos SpencerCarlos SpencerCarlos James Spencer is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays at fly-half for the Lions in the Super 14 and formerly for the New Zealand All Blacks. He is well known for his flamboyant, attacking play and ball handling skills. He has signed to play for the Lions for 2010 and 2011...
- rugby union player - Andrew Sewell - conductor
- Omega Levine - lead singer of world-famous Parachute BandParachute BandParachute Band is a worship band from Auckland, New Zealand, formed out of the New Zealand-based Christian organisation Parachute MusicThe band makes pop/rock music and is currently in its second generation, with the current line-up regularly topping the mainstream MySpace NZ Music Charts for acts...