Takapau

Takapau
Rural community
Takapau in 1958
Takapau
Coordinates: 40°02′S 176°21′E / 40.033°S 176.350°E / -40.033; 176.350
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay
Territorial authority	Central Hawke's Bay District
Population  (2018)
• Total	516

Takapau is a small rural community in the Central Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipukurau, off State Highway 2, and has a population of more than 500.^[1]

The original township was founded in 1876 by farmer Sydney Johnston from Oruawharo station. Johnston's family donated land for a school and churches, and built the local library, public hall and, later, Plunket rooms. Many streets are named after members of the family.^[1]

Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry, and the community takes its name from the flax that grew in the expansive Takapau plains. The Māori word translates literally as "mat" or "carpet".^[1]

The largest business in Takapau is now the Silverfern Farms meat-processing plant, founded by the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Meat Company in 1981. Kintail Honey, one of country's largest honey-packing and beekeeping operations, is also based in the town.^[1]

There are two schools in Takapau. The Trappist monastery, the Southern Star Abbey, is also located nearby.

Marae[]

The local Rongo o Tahu Marae is a tribal meeting ground for the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāi Toroiwaho.^[2][3]

Education[]

Takapau School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school,^[4][5] with a roll of 148 as of March 2021.^[6][7]

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Takapau is a Year 1–8 is a co-educational state Kura Kaupapa Māori school,^[8] with a roll of 8 as of March 2021.^[6][9]

J Class loco at Takapau June 1901^[10]

Railway station[]

Takapau had a railway station from 12 March 1877 to 27 September 1981.^[11] It was the terminus of the line from Spit for 10 months, until 25 January 1878, when the extension to Kopua opened.^[12] Takapau at that time was on the northern edge of the Seventy Mile Bush.^[13]

Edmund Allan and Samuel^[14] Kingstreet^[15] had a £14,100 contract to build the 14 mi (23 km) extension of the Napier to Waipukurau railway south to Takapau.^[16] They built a 5th class station in 1875 and Donald McLeod, a Waipukurau carpenter,^[17] built a goods shed and platform in 1877. Initially, only one train a day ran from Takapau.^[18] In 1890 there were two trains a day.^[19] There was a post office at the station from 1887 to 1911. By 1896 there were 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) and 40 ft (12 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) goods sheds and also a cart approach, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 24 wagons, extended to 55 in 1911 and further extended in 1940. In 1905 a verandah was added and the platform extended. Electric lights were installed in 1921. Railway houses were built in 1928 and 1946.

On 27 September 1981^[11] the old station closed and a new station^[10] and loop line opened near Oruawharo, 3.78 km (2.35 mi)^[20] to the east.^[21] The loop is still in use, with sidings linking to the Silver Fern Farms works and a platform and shelter remain,^[22] which appear weed-grown in a 2015 photo.^[23] There has been no regular passenger train since at least 1995.^[24] There is now only a single line passing through the original Takapau station site.^[25]

There was also a passing loop at Whenawahau, 4 42 4 mi 42 ch (7.3 km) south of Takapau, which was originally used for construction of the viaduct to the south.^[10]

References[]

Coordinates: 40°02′S 176°21′E / 40.033°S 176.350°E / -40.033; 176.350

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