Ngongotaha
Encyclopedia
Ngongotaha is a town on the western shores of Lake Rotorua
in New Zealand
's North Island
.
It is located 10 kilometers northwest of Rotorua
city, and is often regarded as an outer suburb of the larger centre. However, most locals would be adamant that Ngongotaha is an independent village in its own right. Its population is 4000. Its name is derived from a legend of Ihenga, the famous Māori explorer. It is said Ihenga met the Patu-paiarehe
on Mount Ngongotaha and was offered a drink from a calabash (ngongo = to drink, tahā = calabash.
Ngongotaha is often referred to by locals as the "Sunny side of the Mountain". The village has strong football (Ngongotaha AFC
), rugby and netball teams. There are several marae
within the community.
The township is currently experiencing development and growth, with several new housing developments occurring, as well as the village centre developing a 'cafe' scene. The main road through the village was recently made a state highway, this now being known as SH36, running via Kaharoa
and Pyes Pa to Tauranga
.
The Rotorua Branch railway runs through Ngongotaha, although this has been unused since the turn of the century. A Railway Park, run by enthusiasts, provides train rides on a scale model steam train and a mini diesel-locomotive on the Western side of Ngongotaha near the former line.
The Ngongotaha Stream, which flows through the village centre and onward into Lake Rotorua
is one of the most heavily fished areas in New Zealand
. Specimen Rainbow trout
and brown trout
are regularly taken by fly fishermen
. Other nearby streams (Awahou, Waiteti and Hamurana) also offer good fishing.
On the corner of Kokiri Street and Ngongotaha Road is the Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade, with two fire applicances and a team of approx 20 volunteer firemen.
In 2005 an initiative was commenced in Ngongotaha declaring it a 'smack free town', with the local population striving to banish corporal punishment. Over the last three years the effort has been a success, although about 45% of settlement polled about the progress of the initiative have turned a blind eye.
Lake Rotorua
Lake Rotorua is the second largest lake in the North Island of New Zealand by surface area, and covers 79.8km2. With a mean depth of only 10 metres it is considerably smaller than nearby Lake Tarawera in terms of volume of water. It is located in the Bay of Plenty region...
in 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...
's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
.
It is located 10 kilometers northwest of Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
city, and is often regarded as an outer suburb of the larger centre. However, most locals would be adamant that Ngongotaha is an independent village in its own right. Its population is 4000. Its name is derived from a legend of Ihenga, the famous Māori explorer. It is said Ihenga met the Patu-paiarehe
Patupaiarehe
In Māori mythology, Patupaiarehe are pale spirit beings that live in deep forests and mountaintops in New Zealand, and are sometimes hostile to humans...
on Mount Ngongotaha and was offered a drink from a calabash (ngongo = to drink, tahā = calabash.
Ngongotaha is often referred to by locals as the "Sunny side of the Mountain". The village has strong football (Ngongotaha AFC
Ngongotaha AFC
Ngongotaha AFC is a soccer club based in Ngongotaha, a town northwest of Rotorua, New Zealand. Founded in 1966 the club play their home games at Stembridge Road. The club, known locally as The Villagers boasts a senior men's team playing in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation league, although for...
), rugby and netball teams. There are several marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
within the community.
The township is currently experiencing development and growth, with several new housing developments occurring, as well as the village centre developing a 'cafe' scene. The main road through the village was recently made a state highway, this now being known as SH36, running via Kaharoa
Kaharoa
Kaharoa is a rural area of New Zealand approximately 20km from Rotorua and 45km from Tauranga on the North Island. At its highest point the area is approx. 500m above sea level, with some areas able to see towards the coastline of the eastern Bay of Plenty....
and Pyes Pa to Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
.
The Rotorua Branch railway runs through Ngongotaha, although this has been unused since the turn of the century. A Railway Park, run by enthusiasts, provides train rides on a scale model steam train and a mini diesel-locomotive on the Western side of Ngongotaha near the former line.
The Ngongotaha Stream, which flows through the village centre and onward into Lake Rotorua
Lake Rotorua
Lake Rotorua is the second largest lake in the North Island of New Zealand by surface area, and covers 79.8km2. With a mean depth of only 10 metres it is considerably smaller than nearby Lake Tarawera in terms of volume of water. It is located in the Bay of Plenty region...
is one of the most heavily fished areas in 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...
. Specimen Rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
and brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
are regularly taken by fly fishermen
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
. Other nearby streams (Awahou, Waiteti and Hamurana) also offer good fishing.
On the corner of Kokiri Street and Ngongotaha Road is the Ngongotaha Volunteer Fire Brigade, with two fire applicances and a team of approx 20 volunteer firemen.
In 2005 an initiative was commenced in Ngongotaha declaring it a 'smack free town', with the local population striving to banish corporal punishment. Over the last three years the effort has been a success, although about 45% of settlement polled about the progress of the initiative have turned a blind eye.
Famous Faces
Despite its small size, Ngongotaha has produced a number of famous New Zealanders, including:- Hika Reid All Black Rugby Player 1980-1986.
- Jeremy PaulJeremy PaulJeremy Paul is a New Zealand-born Australia rugby union player. He played hooker and prop for the wallabies and the ACT Brumbies.At the end of 2005, Paul was awarded the John Eales Medal, receiving 194 votes from his teammates...
Australian Wallaby Rugby Player, a 1999 World Cup winner. - Temuera MorrisonTemuera MorrisonTemuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
Actor