Waipu
Encyclopedia
Waipu is a small town in Bream Bay
, in the Northland Region of New Zealand
, with a Scottish
heritage. The population was 1,491 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 222 from 2001. A highlight of the town's calendar is the annual Highland Games held at New Year
. Just outside the town are the Waipu Caves, which contain a significant population of glow worms
.
to New Zealand via Pictou
and St. Ann's
in Nova Scotia
and Australia
. Five shiploads containing over 800 settlers arrived at Waipu in the 1850s. For more details about the original European settlers, see the Rev. Norman McLeod entry.
In 1914, a railway branch line
from the North Auckland Line was surveyed to Waipu to serve agricultural activity in the area. Construction of the line was delayed due to World War I
, but by 1920, 25 men were employed in the construction of formation
. However, by 1924, private motor vehicles were becoming more common and railway lines to sparsely-populated rural areas accordingly became less necessary. Due to the lack of significant industrial activity in the Waipu area, the branch line was no longer seen as economic and construction was cancelled before any rail tracks
were laid. However, a new railway line, the Marsden Point Branch
, is currently proposed for construction and will follow a route similar to that of the abortive Waipu line.
of 7 and a roll of 206.
Schools were formed in the Waipu area at Waipu Cove, Bream Tail, Waipu Centre, The Braigh, North River and Waipu Cove. The schools at Bream Tail and Waipu Caves closed before 1930. The remaining schools, and one at Mata north of Ruakaka
, were consolidated into Waipu District High School in 1940, which provided both primary and secondary education on a single site on St Mary's Road. Ruakaka School was originally intended to be included in the consolidation, but residents of Ruakaka resisted. In 1956, the secondary department moved to a new site in Argyle Street, although some secondary classes remained at the original site. By the late 1960s, Waipu was the largest District High School in the country and had inadequate facilities. The school was split at the beginning of 1972 to form the new Bream Bay College
and Waipu Primary, with the high school shifting to new premises at Ruakaka in 1974. The primary school moved to the Argyle Street site.
Bream Bay
Bream Bay is a locality and bay on the east coast of New Zealand. Captain James Cook named this area to the bay itself, but also the some surrounding locations, stretching north to Whangarei and southbound touching Mangawhai....
, in the Northland 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...
, with a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
heritage. The population was 1,491 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 222 from 2001. A highlight of the town's calendar is the annual Highland Games held at New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
. Just outside the town are the Waipu Caves, which contain a significant population of glow worms
Arachnocampa
Arachnocampa is a genus of four fungus gnat species which are, in their larval stage, glowworms. They are found mostly in New Zealand and Australia in caves and grottos, or sheltered places in forests....
.
History
Waipu was the centre of a significant Presbyterian settlement led by Rev. Norman McLeod, a Presbyterian Minister who led his people from the Highlands of ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to New Zealand via Pictou
Pictou, Nova Scotia
Pictou is a town in Pictou County, in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Located on the north shore of Pictou Harbour, the town is approximately 10 km north of the larger town of New Glasgow....
and St. Ann's
St. Ann's, Nova Scotia
Not to be confused with present-day Englishtown, Nova Scotia, which was formerly known as Saint Anne.St. Anns is a Canadian rural community located in Victoria County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the southwestern shore of St...
in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Five shiploads containing over 800 settlers arrived at Waipu in the 1850s. For more details about the original European settlers, see the Rev. Norman McLeod entry.
In 1914, a railway branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
from the North Auckland Line was surveyed to Waipu to serve agricultural activity in the area. Construction of the line was delayed due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but by 1920, 25 men were employed in the construction of formation
Track bed
A track bed or trackbed is the term used to describe the groundwork onto which a railway track is laid. Trackbeds of disused railways are sometimes used for recreational paths or new light rail links....
. However, by 1924, private motor vehicles were becoming more common and railway lines to sparsely-populated rural areas accordingly became less necessary. Due to the lack of significant industrial activity in the Waipu area, the branch line was no longer seen as economic and construction was cancelled before any rail tracks
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
were laid. However, a new railway line, the Marsden Point Branch
Marsden Point Branch
The Marsden Point Branch is a proposed branch line railway in the Northland region of New Zealand's North Island. It would diverge from the North Auckland Line south of Whangarei and serve Northland Port at Marsden Point...
, is currently proposed for construction and will follow a route similar to that of the abortive Waipu line.
Education
Waipu School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) 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 7 and a roll of 206.
Schools were formed in the Waipu area at Waipu Cove, Bream Tail, Waipu Centre, The Braigh, North River and Waipu Cove. The schools at Bream Tail and Waipu Caves closed before 1930. The remaining schools, and one at Mata north of Ruakaka
Ruakaka
Ruakaka is a small township in the north of New Zealand approximately 30 kilometres south of Whangarei in the Bream Bay area. Originally a small beachside community, Ruakaka has seen development due to its proximity to the expansion of the country's only oil refinery at Marsden Point during the 1980s...
, were consolidated into Waipu District High School in 1940, which provided both primary and secondary education on a single site on St Mary's Road. Ruakaka School was originally intended to be included in the consolidation, but residents of Ruakaka resisted. In 1956, the secondary department moved to a new site in Argyle Street, although some secondary classes remained at the original site. By the late 1960s, Waipu was the largest District High School in the country and had inadequate facilities. The school was split at the beginning of 1972 to form the new Bream Bay College
Bream Bay College
Bream Bay College is a secondary school located in Northland, New Zealand. Situated at the central hub of the area, Bream Bay College serves this area along with One Tree Point, Whangarei and Whangarei Heads to the north, the Marae-based community of Takahiwai to the West, the strongly held...
and Waipu Primary, with the high school shifting to new premises at Ruakaka in 1974. The primary school moved to the Argyle Street site.