Taihape | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Coordinates: 39°40.6′S 175°47.8′E / 39.6767°S 175.7967°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| District | Rangitikei District |
| Wards |
|
| Community | Taihape Community |
| Early settlement | pre-European |
| Taihape | 1894 |
| Named for | Shortened form of Ōtaihape. |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Rangitikei District Council |
| • Regional council | Horizons Regional Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.93 km2 (1.90 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2023)[2] | |
| • Total | 1,800 |
| • Density | 370/km2 (950/sq mi) |
| Postcode | 4720 |
| Area code | 06 |
Taihape is in the Rangitikei District of the North Island of New Zealand. It serves a large rural community. State Highway 1, which runs North to South through the centre of the North Island, passes through the town.
YouTube Encyclopedic
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Taihape, gumboot capital - Roadside Stories
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What Now SLAM - Tu's Tiki Tour of Taihape
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Taihape: Gumboot Capital of New Zealand - New Zealand's Biggest Gap Year – BackpackerGuide.NZ
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1290 Taihape Road, Sherenden, Hastings, Hawkes Bay
Transcription
[John Clarke] Well I think that a lot of the things Fred Dagg did weren't jokes, umm, they were to do with language and the way and the pace with which things are expressed, and only my own culture was ever going to understand that. If I'd done Fred Dagg in England, I would have to have done very much more jokey stuff, I'd have to have done much broader stuff. I couldn't have done anything terribly subtle. I mean I'm not arguing that there was a lot of Fred Dagg that was infinitely subtle or anything, but there were parts of the way that the talk worked that would only have been understood by New Zealand, and I didn't have to do too much of it, because in all of our heads the rest of it was sitting there. [Kiwi bloke -- actor's voice] I think I've found a new calling in life - gumboot throwing. I knew I had to be good at something. Maybe I'll retire to Taihape to be a full-time gumboot tosser. After a few warm-ups, I was handed a pair of regulation size 8 men's gumboots. Like golf, this is all about timing. If you relax, make sure the boot is facing forwards and release it with a fluid swing of your arm, it will fly with the grace of an eagle. I am proud to say that my best effort did just that, sailing past the end of the lane to about 28 metres. [Narrator] Before the 1970s, New Zealanders tended to be entertained by imported English humour. Then television took hold and American sitcoms became popular. But on a serious weekly television show about farming called Country Calendar, which is still going, a mysterious farmer called Fred Dagg, appeared. Wearing a black shearer's singlet, baggy khaki shorts and gumboots, Fred had a laconic delivery and an unmistakable New Zealand accent. The creation of comedian John Clarke, Fred Dagg delighted in lampooning rural New Zealand. And many of his jokes were at the expense of Taihape. Fred Dagg would refer to his time at Taihape's Gumboot University and labelled the town 'the gumboot capital of the world'. A gumboot is the Kiwi term for a pair of rubber Wellington boots. Most New Zealand farmers wear black gumboots on the farm as they are ideal footwear in mud and water. Though by the 1970s most New Zealanders lived in cities, Kiwis loved Fred Dagg. He was the first New Zealand comic to really use rural life as the wellspring of his humour. Fred performed on television, and released records including 'Where would you be without your gumboots' and 'We don't know how lucky we are.' Yet before long Fred Dagg disappeared. John Clarke moved to Australia where he established a highly successful career as a satirist, scriptwriter and performer. And the rural way of life that Fred Dagg portrayed so amusingly also disappeared. During the mid 1980s, the Labour government slashed agricultural subsidies. Faced with the withdrawal of taxpayer funding, farmers stopped spending. This impacted on rural towns that depended on farmers' chequebooks to survive. Taihape, a rural service centre, suffered more than most. At the same time, the government cut spending on New Zealand Railways, the other main contributor to Taihape's economy. Thousands of jobs vanished throughout the country, lines closed and services were reduced. Taihape, situated on the main trunk line, faced an uncertain future. The town's population of 3,500 in the 1960s almost halved to around 1,800 in 1985. Faced with this crisis, concerned citizens gathered to brainstorm a solution. They decided that their town needed a new identity. It didn't take them long to realise that Fred Dagg might have the answer. Taihape branded itself 'the gumboot capital of the world', and celebrated with Gumboot Day. Held on Easter Tuesday 1985, the first Gumboot Day included gumboot-throwing contests, Fred Dagg lookalike competitions and gumboot decorating. Its success encouraged the organisers to make it an annual fixture. The current record for gumboot throwing stands at just under 37 metres for men and nearly 25 metres for women. This is well short of the world record set in 1996 in Finland by Teppo Luoma, who hurled a boot nearly 64 metres. Taihape has now recovered from the dark days of the 1980s. As motorists approach Taihape from the north, they are greeted by a large corrugated iron sculpture of a gumboot, the work of renowned artist, Jeff Thomson. Though the rail service is greatly reduced, motorists frequently stop for a coffee or meal at one of the cafes that have sprung up in the town. And Gumboot Day continues to attract visitors from New Zealand and overseas.
History and culture
Early history
The Taihape region was originally inhabited by Māori. These iwi (tribes) still live in the area. The first record of a European to the region is William Colenso's visit in 1845. In 1884, the surveyor's party for the Main Trunk railway line cut a rough track through the district.
The town was founded in 1894, when European settlers arrived from Canterbury in the South Island. The site of the town was a small natural clearing in dense native bush, which the first settlers set about clearing. Many of the original families have descendants still living in the area. The settlement was first called Hautapu after the local river, then Otaihape ("the place of Tai the Hunchback"), and finally Taihape.[3]
Before the establishment of the railway, the bulk of farming produce (wool) had to be transported east by horse and bullock cart to Napier, from where it was exported. Until the establishment of roads and railways in the early 1900s, Taihape, like other rural towns, remained largely an isolated pioneer settlement.
Recent history
Taihape developed as a key railway and transport town, reaching its peak of population and activity during the heyday of the 1950s and 1960s. The town declined during the downturn of the 1980s and today it is largely a refreshment stop for travellers and a service point for the local farming community.
Taihape is home of the annual Gumboot Day, first celebrated on 9 April 1985. This festival was devised by local business people who decided to capitalise on its rural image. Taihape's association with gumboots is marked by a large sculpture of a gumboot positioned prominently on the edge of town. Local business owners commissioned the New Zealand sculptor Jeff Thomson to produce the oversized gumboot using his signature material, corrugated iron.[4] Entertainer John Clarke used Taihape as a location for his Fred Dagg comedy persona.
Marae
There are five marae in the Taihape area, where local iwi and hapū meet:
- Kuratahi Marae and Te Karere meeting house is affiliated with the Ngāti Rangi hapū of Ngāti Rangituhia and Ngāti Parenga
- Opaea Marae and Tumakaurangi meeting house is affiliated with the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Tamakōpiri
- Raketapauma Marae and Rangituhia meeting house is affiliated with the Ngāti Rangi hapū of Ngāti Rangituhia
- Tamakopiri Marae and Tumakaurangi meeting house is affiliated with the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāti Tama
- Winiata Marae and Tautahi meeting house is affiliated with the Ngāti Hauiti hapū of Ngāti Hinemanu and Ngāti Te Ngahoa, and the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāti Hinemanu and Ngāti Paki
In October 2020, the Government committed $836,930 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade a cluster of 7 marae, including Opaea Marae and Raketapauma Marae, creating 95 jobs. It also committed a further $239,367 towards Raketapauma Marae and another marae, creating 34 jobs.[5]
Economy
Taihape is a rural supply town and at its peak during the 1960s, was the main railway and transport hub for the surrounding farming community. Much of its economic activity revolved around the railway and rural communities. A major decline occurred in the 1980s due to a restructure and electrification of the railway system and a general downturn in the farming sector.
In recent years and with the advent of major tourist attractions, Taihape is now experiencing an upturn in local commerce. Its location on the North Island Main Trunk railway and on State Highway 1 has ensured its economic survival. Taihape's main claim to fame is as the "Gumboot Capital of the World", and it attracts large numbers of people to the annual gumboot-throwing contest.
Geography
Taihape is near the confluence of the Hautapu and Rangitikei rivers about 500 m (1500 ft) above sea level. It lies in a sheltered valley among the high country of the central North Island, close to the Rangitikei River and the Ruahine Ranges. It is surrounded by fertile high country ideal for sheep and deer farming and its location close to the mountains, rivers and lakes has made it an important service hub for hunting and outdoor tourism. The town is located at the southern edge of the volcanic plateau.
Transport routes in and out of Taihape have improved over the years and what were once twisting and treacherous roads through the high country are now easy and fast deviations through the hills to Mangaweka in the south and Waiouru to the north. Taihape's climate is temperate. There is significant rainfall throughout the year in Taihape. According to the Köppen climate classification, this climate is classified as oceanic climate (Cfb). The average annual temperature is 11.5 °C and about 953 mm of precipitation falls annually.[6]
Climate
| Climate data for Taihape, elevation 433 m (1,421 ft), (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) |
23.6 (74.5) |
21.2 (70.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.9 (53.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
12.2 (54.0) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.3 (61.3) |
18.6 (65.5) |
21.3 (70.3) |
17.2 (62.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.9 (62.4) |
16.9 (62.4) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.7 (53.1) |
9.1 (48.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
6.4 (43.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
11.0 (51.8) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
11.5 (52.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.4 (50.7) |
10.3 (50.5) |
8.1 (46.6) |
5.7 (42.3) |
3.6 (38.5) |
2.1 (35.8) |
1.5 (34.7) |
2.1 (35.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
5.7 (42.3) |
7.1 (44.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
5.9 (42.6) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 68.4 (2.69) |
54.5 (2.15) |
55.3 (2.18) |
92.2 (3.63) |
75.9 (2.99) |
88.0 (3.46) |
92.0 (3.62) |
85.5 (3.37) |
84.7 (3.33) |
92.5 (3.64) |
77.3 (3.04) |
81.4 (3.20) |
947.7 (37.3) |
| Source: NIWA[7] | |||||||||||||
People
Taihape covers 4.93 km2 (1.90 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,800 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 365 people per km2. Population peaked at around 3,500 in the late 1960s, but declined in parallel with many other rural towns after that time.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,839 | — |
| 2013 | 1,575 | −2.19% |
| 2018 | 1,716 | +1.73% |
| Source: [8] | ||
Taihape had a population of 1,716 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 141 people (9.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 123 people (−6.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 684 households, comprising 855 males and 861 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 40.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 369 people (21.5%) aged under 15 years, 297 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 741 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 309 (18.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 69.1% European/Pākehā, 47.9% Māori, 4.4% Pacific peoples, 3.7% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 45.1% had no religion, 37.9% were Christian, 5.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 117 (8.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 369 (27.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 144 people (10.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 684 (50.8%) people were employed full-time, 243 (18.0%) were part-time, and 24 (1.8%) were unemployed.[8][2]
Railways
Taihape Railway Station was an important railway stop on the North Island Main Trunk line, with a marshalling yard and locomotive depot until the late 1970s.
There were many railway houses situated along the length of Mataroa Road; now only three remain. At one time Taihape had two lodges of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. One of the lodges was named Kaikoura Lodge No 226 (after the local Kaikoura River) this lodge survived until 2007. The lodge once had its own lodge rooms. The former railways house painted purple located on the highway travelling south into Taihape was once one of the two Buffaloes halls. The lodge in Taihape once boasted a large membership due in part to the numbers of Railways and Post Office staff stationed in the town.
In 1999 Tranz Rail demolished the historic Taihape Railway Station.[9] The Refreshment Rooms still stand on the former station platform, as do the old goods shed and locomotive depot compound at the south end of the rail yard. After a long period of fund-raising by Rotary, a loco turntable was re-purchased and installed in the station yard, so that special trains can run to Taihape and turn around for the return run.
Government and politics
Local politics
As part of the Rangitikei District, the current Mayor of Rangitikei since 2013 is Andy Watson.[10]
Taihape is the main town in the Taihape ward of the Rangitikei District Council, which elects three of the eleven district councillors. The three councillors of the Taihape ward are Richard Aslett, Angus Gordon and Ruth Rainey.[11] The mayor and councillors are all due for re-election in October 2016.[12]
National government
Taihape, like the rest of the Rangitikei District, is located in the general electorate of Rangitīkei and in the Māori electorate of Te Tai Hauāuru.[13] Rangitīkei is a safe National Party seat since the 1938 election with the exception of 1978–1984 when it was held by Bruce Beetham of the Social Credit Party. Since 2011 it is held by Ian McKelvie.[14]
Te Tai Hauāuru is a more unstable seat, having been held by three different parties since 1996, i.e. New Zealand First, the Māori Party and the Labour Party.[15] Since 2014 it is held by Adrian Rurawhe of the Labour Party.[16]
Education
Taihape Area School is a co-educational state area school for Year 1 to 13 students,[17][18] with a roll of 237 as of February 2024.[19] The school was established in 2005 through the amalgamation of Taihape's primary and secondary schools due to the declining rolls at both schools.[20]
St Joseph's School, also located in Taihape, is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students.[21] with a roll of 98.[22] The school was established in 1916.[23]
Notable people
- Douglas MacDiarmid, artist
- Nehe Milner-Skudder, rugby union player
- Nash Chase, entertainer
- Moke Belliss, rugby union player[24]
References
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ a b c "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
- ^ An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 1966, A. H. McLintock (editor)
- ^ Penelope Jackson and Robin Woodward (2013). Corrugations : the art of Jeff Thomson. Tauranga, N.Z.: Tauranga Art Gallery. ISBN 978-0-473-23510-9. OCLC 854304631.
- ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Climate: Taihape". Climate-data.org. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Taihape Rec". NIWA. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Taihape (226500). 2018 Census place summary: Taihape
- ^ "First Taihape rail stop in over five years". TVNZ. October 2009.
- ^ Wallis, Anna (14 October 2013). "Watson wins Rangitikei chain". Wanganui Chronicle – nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Councillors". Rangitikei District Council. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Local Electoral Act 2001". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Find my Electorate". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Rangitīkei Electorate Profile". New Zealand Parliament. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru Electorate Profile". New Zealand Parliament. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Rurawhe, Adrian". New Zealand Parliament. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "Taihape Area School Official School Website". tas.school.nz.
- ^ "Taihape Area School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Taihape Area School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ Herselman, Germari (16 July 2014). "Merging schools worth it - Taihape". The Marlborough Express. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ "St Joseph's School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "St Joseph's School (Taihape) Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "St Joseph's School Official School Website". saintjos.school.nz.
- ^ "Moke Belliss #226". All Blacks Match Centre.
External links
| Authority control databases: National |
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This page was last edited on 20 May 2024, at 04:09