Manaia
Encyclopedia
Manaia is a rural town in South Taranaki District
, New Zealand
. Opunake
is 29 km to the northwest, and Hawera
is 13 km to the southeast. Kaponga
is 15 km north. State Highway 45 passes through the town. Manaia is named after the former Māori chief of the district, Hukunui Manaia.
The Manaia and surrounding community has a South Taranaki District Council LibraryPlus, which provides a full library service and Council related services. These services include being able to register your dog, pay your rates or inquire about obtaining a building permit. Other services include a Tot Time for the under 5s, a regular crossword morning and bookclubs catering to both children and adults. The LibraryPlus also has numerous APN computers, offering free internet and Skype to the public.
The population was 927 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 24 from 2001.
Built around 1880 on the site of a former pā (Te Takahe) during peacetime, this redoubt and wooden watchtower was created for the passive resistance of the Parihaka
chief, Te Whiti o Rongomai
, and his followers. The wooden watchtower (35 feet high) was blown down in a storm and replaced in 1912 by a concrete one still standing today amidst the 18-hole golf
course surrounded by two original blockhouses. Also, trenches surround the tower and blockhouses. It could house 160 men and all the timber used for the construction was pit sawn locally by the constables.
The golf course is one of the oldest of Taranaki, created around 1905.
Also when driving into Manaia from Hawera
the remains of the old flour mill can be seen on the left hand side.
These concrete remains of the mill were built in 1900 to replace the original wooden mill built in 1882 by Mr D. F. McVicar of the Sentry Hill flour mill, New Plymouth
.
The local Waiokura River powered the mill by a 15 feet (4.6 m) water wheel which developed 15 hp.
The mill had 4 stories, and a 23 feet (7 m) stud. It was 35 feet (10.7 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. About 40000 feet (12,192 m) of timber was used and the building provided storage for about 15,000 sacks of flour.
Yarrows Family Bakers employs around 250 people, and has been the main business in Manaia since 1923. The company manufactures fresh and frozen breads and bakery products. Its clients include Foodstuffs
, Subway
, and Pams
. The company went into receivership in 2011.
Manaia and surrounding districts enjoy a full library and council service. Manaia LibraryPlus is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8.30-5pm; and Tuesday 9.30-5pm.
In 2007, a 14 year old Jack Russell terrier
called George died protecting 5 local children from an attack by two pit bull
terriers. He was given a posthumous PDSA Gold Medal
, the animal equivalent of the George Cross
, at a special ceremony in Manaia in February 2009. The town has also erected a statue in his honour.
of 4 and a roll of 160. The school was founded in 1882. In 2005, Tokaora School closed and merged with Manaia School.
South Taranaki District
South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hawera, Manaia, Opunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley...
, 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...
. Opunake
Opunake
Opunake is a small town on the southwest coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 45 kilometres southwest of New Plymouth. Rahotu is 16 km to the northwest. Manaia is 29 km to the southeast. State Highway 45 passes through the town.The population was 1368 in the...
is 29 km to the northwest, and Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
is 13 km to the southeast. Kaponga
Kaponga
Kaponga is a small town in the southern part of the Taranaki region of New Zealand. It is known as "The Gateway to Dawson's Falls" on Mount Taranaki/Egmont. Kaponga is located inland from Manaia and Eltham, and is on the main road connecting Eltham to Opunake. Opunaki is 26 km to the west and...
is 15 km north. State Highway 45 passes through the town. Manaia is named after the former Māori chief of the district, Hukunui Manaia.
The Manaia and surrounding community has a South Taranaki District Council LibraryPlus, which provides a full library service and Council related services. These services include being able to register your dog, pay your rates or inquire about obtaining a building permit. Other services include a Tot Time for the under 5s, a regular crossword morning and bookclubs catering to both children and adults. The LibraryPlus also has numerous APN computers, offering free internet and Skype to the public.
The population was 927 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 24 from 2001.
History
Only a small town, Manaia has its history still visible with the Manaia Redoubt still present.Built around 1880 on the site of a former pā (Te Takahe) during peacetime, this redoubt and wooden watchtower was created for the passive resistance of the Parihaka
Parihaka
Parihaka is a small community in Taranaki Region, New Zealand, located between Mount Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. In the 1870s and 1880s the settlement, then reputed to be the largest Māori village in New Zealand, became the centre of a major campaign of non-violent resistance to European...
chief, Te Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai
Te Whiti o Rongomai III was a Māori spiritual leader and founder of the village of Parihaka, in New Zealand's Taranaki region.-Biography:...
, and his followers. The wooden watchtower (35 feet high) was blown down in a storm and replaced in 1912 by a concrete one still standing today amidst the 18-hole golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course surrounded by two original blockhouses. Also, trenches surround the tower and blockhouses. It could house 160 men and all the timber used for the construction was pit sawn locally by the constables.
The golf course is one of the oldest of Taranaki, created around 1905.
Also when driving into Manaia from Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
the remains of the old flour mill can be seen on the left hand side.
These concrete remains of the mill were built in 1900 to replace the original wooden mill built in 1882 by Mr D. F. McVicar of the Sentry Hill flour mill, New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
.
The local Waiokura River powered the mill by a 15 feet (4.6 m) water wheel which developed 15 hp.
The mill had 4 stories, and a 23 feet (7 m) stud. It was 35 feet (10.7 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. About 40000 feet (12,192 m) of timber was used and the building provided storage for about 15,000 sacks of flour.
Yarrows Family Bakers employs around 250 people, and has been the main business in Manaia since 1923. The company manufactures fresh and frozen breads and bakery products. Its clients include Foodstuffs
Foodstuffs
Foodstuffs is a group of three New Zealand grocery and liquor retailers' cooperatives based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch which collectively control an estimated 57% of the New Zealand grocery market...
, Subway
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
, and Pams
Pams (company)
Pams is a New Zealand company, owned by Foodstuffs, which also owns New World, Pak'n Save and Four Square. Pams sources and brands a wide range of supermarket goods as a house brand.-History:...
. The company went into receivership in 2011.
Manaia and surrounding districts enjoy a full library and council service. Manaia LibraryPlus is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 8.30-5pm; and Tuesday 9.30-5pm.
In 2007, a 14 year old Jack Russell terrier
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. It is principally white-bodied smooth, rough or broken-coated which is commonly confused with the Parson Russell terrier and the Russell terrier with the term "Jack Russell" commonly misapplied to other small white...
called George died protecting 5 local children from an attack by two pit bull
Pit bull
A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.Many jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls, including Ontario, Canada,, Miami, Florida, U.S...
terriers. He was given a posthumous PDSA Gold Medal
PDSA Gold Medal
The PDSA Gold Medal is an animal bravery award that acknowledges the bravery and devotion to duty of animals. It was created by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 2001, and is now recognised as the animal equivalent of the George Cross...
, the animal equivalent of the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
, at a special ceremony in Manaia in February 2009. The town has also erected a statue in his honour.
Education
Manaia School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile ratingSocio-Economic Decile
Decile, Socio-Economic Decile or Socio-Economic Decile Band is a widely used measure in education in New Zealand used to target funding and support to more needy schools....
of 4 and a roll of 160. The school was founded in 1882. In 2005, Tokaora School closed and merged with Manaia School.