Te Kuiti
Encyclopedia
| Te Kuiti | |
| Country: | 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... |
| Population: | 4,374 |
| Urban Area Urban areas of New Zealand Statistics New Zealand defines New Zealand urban areas for statistical purposes. The urban areas comprise cities, towns and other 'conurbations' of a thousand people or more. In combination, the urban areas of the country constitute New Zealand's urban population... |
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| Extent: | |
| Territorial Authority Territorial authorities of New Zealand Territorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. There are 67 territorial authorities: 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Islands Council... |
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| Name: | Waitomo District Council |
| Mayor: | Brian Hanna |
| Extent: | |
| Land Area: | |
| Website: | http://www.waitomo.govt.nz |
| See also: | |
| Regional Council | |
| Name: | Environment Waikato |
| Website: | http://www.ew.govt.nz/ |
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region of the 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...
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...
. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30
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...
and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 80 km south of Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
.
As of the 2001 census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
it had a resident population of 4,374, a decrease of 5.1% since 1991. The town promotes itself as the sheep shearing
Sheep shearing
Sheep shearing, shearing or clipping is the process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. The person who removes the sheep's wool is called a shearer. Typically each adult sheep is shorn once each year...
capital of the world and is host to the annual New Zealand National Shearing Championships.
Location
Te Kuiti is approximately 80 km south of HamiltonHamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and 19 km south-east of Waitomo. The area around Te Kuiti, commonly known as the King Country
King Country
The King Country is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of the Whanganui River in the south, and from the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges in the east to near the Tasman...
, gives its name to the Heartland Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team based in Te Kuiti.
History
Te Kuiti is the Maori name given to the area. In its original form of "Te Kuititanga", it literally means "the valley", "the squeezing in" or "the narrowing".Tourism
The "Shearing Capital of the World" contains the world's largest shearer, seven metres high. On 1 April 2006 the largest sheep show in the world took place here, with more than 2000 sheep.
Ngati Maniapoto
Ngāti Maniapoto is an iwi based in the Waikato-Waitomo region of New Zealand's North Island. It is part of the Tainui confederation, the members of which trace their whakapapa back to people who arrived in New Zealand on the waka Tainui...
) by Te Kooti
Te Kooti
Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki was a Māori leader, the founder of the Ringatu religion and guerrilla.While fighting alongside government forces against the Hauhau in 1865, he was accused of spying. Exiled to the Chatham Islands without trial along with captured Hauhau, he experienced visions and...
, a famous Maori leader.
The Tatsuno Japanese Garden is at the southern end of the main street.
The Mangokewa reserve located 5km south of Te Kuiti and is a popular attraction for rock climbers, hikers, picnic goers, swimmers and trout fisherman in the region.
Geography
Limestone deposits and water have created the Waitomo CavesWaitomo Caves
The Waitomo Caves are a village and cave system forming a major tourist attraction in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 12 kilometres northwest of Te Kuiti. The community of Waitomo Caves itself is very small, though the village has many temporary service workers...
, northwest of the town, one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist locations. The town itself is located in a valley with many rich limestone deposits. The Mangaokewa stream runs through the valley and is a tributary of the Waipa river.
Te Kuiti's hinterland consist mainly of farmland and limestone quarrys. The land surrounding Te Kuiti has steep hilly relief which reflects the nature of the North King Country region.
The climate of Te Kuiti is wet during the winter and dry during the late summer with an average of 1,450mm of rainfall each year. http://www.ew.govt.nz/riverlevelsandrainfall/cgi-bin/hydwebserver.cgi/points/details?point=21&catchment=16
Sport
Te Kuiti Albion FC play in the Deacon Shield tournament. They play their home games at Centennial Park where there is a small clubroom. The club colours are yellow and black striped shirts and black shorts.Te Kuiti is home of home of the Waitete Rugby Football Club.
Notable people
- Former Prime Minister of New ZealandPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Jim BolgerJim BolgerJames Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ was the 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. Bolger was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as Rogernomics...
held the local electorate of King Country. - All Black Kevin Boroevich
- World Champion Sheep Shearer David FaganDavid FaganDavid Fagan ONZM is a New Zealand sheep shearer who has won the New Zealand Golden Shears contest a record 16 times. Setting 10 world records and winning 5 world, 6 world team, 16 national titles makes him New Zealand's most successful competition sheep shearer, and he continues to win nationally...
- Tony MartinTony Martin (comedian)Tony Francis Martin is a comedian and writer from Te Kuiti, New Zealand who has had a successful TV, radio, stand-up and film career in Australia.- Career :...
, Australian-based comedian and author, was born here. - All Black great Colin MeadsColin MeadsSir Colin Earl Meads, KNZM, MBE , is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played 55 test matches , most frequently in the lock forward position, for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, from 1957 until 1971.Meads is widely considered one of the greatest players in history...
called Te Kuiti home until November 2007. The auction of his farm caused nationwide interest. - Les MunroLes MunroSquadron Leader John Leslie Munro CNZM, DSO, QSO, DFC, JP is the last surviving pilot of the Dambusters Raid of May 1943....
, the last surviving pilot from the Dambusters air raid, was mayor for some years and has a street named in his honour. - Author Ruth ParkRuth ParkRuth Park, AM was a New Zealand-born author, who spent most of her life in Australia. Her best known works are the novels The Harp in the South and Playing Beatie Bow , and the children's radio serial The Muddle-Headed Wombat , which also spawned a book series .-Personal history:Park was born in...
grew up here. - Rob WaddellRob WaddellRobert "Rob" Norman Waddell, ONZM, is a New Zealand rower, yachtsman and rugby union player. Waddell has one of the highest VO2 max intake levels of any athlete ever tested. He holds the fastest 2000 metre indoor rowing machine time in the world, clocking a time of 5 mins 36.6 secs...
, Olympic gold-medalist rower, was born here. He is also known to have the fastest 2 kilometer ergometerIndoor rowerAn indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right...
time in the CRASH-B SprintsCRASH-B SprintsThe C.R.A.S.H-B Sprints is the world championship for indoor rowing raced over a distance of 2,000 m on Concept2 indoor rowers. It is held every February in Boston, Massachusetts, recently at Boston University's Agganis Arena. Previous venues have included the Reggie Lewis Track and Field Center...
held every year in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.