Ngaere
Encyclopedia
Ngaere is a village situated on State Highway 3
, 4 kilometres south of Stratford, New Zealand
. The name Ngaere literally means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland.
For a time the name was spelt "Ngaire", but it was changed to its Maori
spelling in 1909.
Another "famous in NZ" landmark is the Ngaere Dairy
Factory, founded in 1914. It had its own brand of cheese called "Triumph". Since its closure in the mid 1970s, the factory has been put to many uses - a clothing factory, indoor cricket arena, rave dance hall, and currently a saw mill.
Ngaere formerly had a service station, which closed in the 1990s. The building has been put to a variety of uses, including as a boutique brewery, and a health shop. It is currently a motorcycle repair shop. "Fred's Place" is well known for its antiques.
legend says that the Ngaere swamp was formed when Mt. Taranaki
stopped and wept on its journey to its current resting place. Most of the swamp was drained in the early 20th century for dairy farming.
of 8 and a roll of 138. The school was founded in 1882.
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
, 4 kilometres south of Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford is the only town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District, New Zealand. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, approximately half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki region. The town has a population of...
. The name Ngaere literally means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland.
For a time the name was spelt "Ngaire", but it was changed to its 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...
spelling in 1909.
Attractions
"Ngaere Gardens", which once hosted a menagerie of exotic animals, was a popular picnic spot for early 20th century families. Several attempts at resurrecting the gardens have been to no avail. The gardens have now been cleared, and all that remains now is the large lake, and a number of mature exotic trees.Another "famous in NZ" landmark is the Ngaere Dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
Factory, founded in 1914. It had its own brand of cheese called "Triumph". Since its closure in the mid 1970s, the factory has been put to many uses - a clothing factory, indoor cricket arena, rave dance hall, and currently a saw mill.
Ngaere formerly had a service station, which closed in the 1990s. The building has been put to a variety of uses, including as a boutique brewery, and a health shop. It is currently a motorcycle repair shop. "Fred's Place" is well known for its antiques.
Local Legends
MaoriMaori mythology
Māori mythology and Māori traditions are the two major categories into which the legends of the Māori of New Zealand may usefully be divided...
legend says that the Ngaere swamp was formed when Mt. Taranaki
Mount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Although the mountain is more commonly referred to as Taranaki, it has two official names under the alternative names policy of the New Zealand...
stopped and wept on its journey to its current resting place. Most of the swamp was drained in the early 20th century for dairy farming.
Name
People who have been named Ngaere have had the name spelled Ngaire or Nyree. There are other variations, but the Maori spelling is "Ngaere."Education
Ngaere 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 8 and a roll of 138. The school was founded in 1882.
Business history
- The records of the New Plymouth Sash and Door Factory and Timber Company (which had a sawmill in Ngaere) can be found at . A summary of this holding may be seen at
- Slightly related to the above (in that it involves a sawmill) are the dissenting letters from residents of Cheal and Windsor Roads to the a train operated by InglewoodInglewood, New ZealandInglewood is a town in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand's North Island. The population was 3,090 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 144 from 2001. Inglewood lies 200m above sea level....
businessman Henry Brown and the local Ngaire Sawmills. The letters date from 1897. See
- Architectural drawings for a curing room and accommodation house for the above company are housed within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew 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....
. They date from 1929. See
People
- Some of the papers of Alistair and Mary Dickson are held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew 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 Dicksons farmed in the Ngaere district in the 1920s and 1930s. See
- The oral historian Alison Robinson interviewed Bruce and Jenny Clarke in 1992. They talk about their farm, Jenny's experience as a teacher (at Finnerty Road School), and the district in general. The interview is held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew 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....
. See
- The oral historian Alison Robinson interviewed Alf Willan in 1992. He talks about the district, Lowgarth, and the Lowgarth dairy co-operative (which later merged with the Ngaere Co-operative Dairy Company) The interview is held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew 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....
. See
- A typed manuscript by local farmer Henry Arthur Wood (1873-1956) chronicled his life draining and farming swampy land in the Ngaere district. This document is held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew 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....
. See
Schools
- The oral historian Alison Robinson interviewed Jenny Clarke in 1992. Jenny talks about her experience as a teacher (at Finnerty Road School). The interview is held within in New PlymouthNew PlymouthNew 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....
. See
- Slightly related to the above (in that it involves a sawmill) are the dissenting letters from residents of Cheal and Windsor Roads to the a train operated by Inglewood