Waikaretu

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Waikāretu
Hamlet
Waikapakapa Stream waterfall, Waikāretu
Waikapakapa Stream waterfall, Waikāretu
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Coordinates: 37°32′28″S 174°49′45″E / 37.54120°S 174.82918°E / -37.54120; 174.82918Coordinates: 37°32′28″S 174°49′45″E / 37.54120°S 174.82918°E / -37.54120; 174.82918
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
Territorial authorityWaikato District
Elevation
90 m (300 ft)
Population
 (2013)
 • Total111
Waikaretu Hall

Waikaretu or Waikāretu is a rural community and caving area in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 49 kilometres south-west of Tuakau.[1] Meshblock 0846300 had a population of 48 in 2013 and the south side of Waikāretu, meshblock 0849001, had 63.[2]

The area features the 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long Nikau Cave, which has limestone pillars, stalactites and stalagmites.[1] Ninety minute guided tours are available, which are often wet and muddy.[3] There is a visitor cafe, and there are several accommodation options nearby.[4] A British analysis of TripAdvisor reviews in 2020 identified the cave as one of New Zealand's best secret tourist spots.[5][6]

A local farmstay also provides guided horse treks.[7]

Waikāretu translates as "waters of the kāretu grass"; wai means water; and kāretu is a sweet-scented grass.[8]

History[]

20th century[]

The current Waikaretu settlement was established with the opening of a local school in 1924.[9]

The Wāikaretu War Memorial Hall was built in 1952. It has no Roll of Honour, but includes a plaque commemorating those who served in both World War I and World War II.[10]

Philip and Anne Woodward moved to the area in 1976, purchasing a 204 hectare sheep and dairy farm that included Nikau Cave. They opened the cave to the public in 1994, after their farming lease on a neighbouring 242 hectare block ended and they could no longer make enough money from farming and shearing services.[6][11]

21st century[]

By the 2010s the area featured several dairy farms, including the third-generation Whitford farm.[12]

In 2016, the Overseas Investment Office granted a Chinese company, Weihai Station, approval to buy 595 hectares of coastal land.[13] Part of the land will be used for a lodge and training facility, with the rest continuing to operate as a sheep and beef farm.[14] The company gave Waikaretu School $25,000 in grants between 2016 and 2020.[15]

Also in 2016, a secretive group began tunneling into the side of road searching for the skeletons of a mythical race of pre-Polynesian giants.[16] They called off the search in February 2020, after iwi, academics and the landowner raised concerns about the dig.[17]

Education[]

Waikaretu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[18][19] with a roll of 29 as of March 2021.[20]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Swarbrick, Nancy (11 June 2015). "Waikato places". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. ^ "2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place". archive.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  3. ^ Ell, Sarah (2 September 2017). "Into the deep caves". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Weekend Magazine.
  4. ^ "Nikau Cave and Cafe". nikaucave.co.nz. Nikau Cave & Cafe – New Zealand Glowworm Cave.
  5. ^ "Tourist data points to little-known island in Hauraki Gulf as New Zealand's top hidden gem". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald. 9 January 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Sabin, Brook (8 January 2020). "New Zealand's best secret spots revealed". Stuff. Stuff Travel.
  7. ^ "Wild west weekend in Waikaretu Valley". Australian Provincial Newspapers. The New Zealand Herald. 15 June 2003.
  8. ^ "Waikaretu". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  9. ^ Blomfield, Bruce (1999). Waikaretu Celebrates 75 Years. Waikaretu.
  10. ^ "Waikāretu war memorial hall". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 17 February 2017.
  11. ^ "An underground fantasyland". Stuff. Stuff Travel. 5 January 2017.
  12. ^ Chivers, Luke (25 January 2019). "Sheep farming: it's in our nature". Global HQ. Farmers Weekly.
  13. ^ Anthony, John (6 January 2016). "Chinese company Weihai Station to buy large farm west of Auckland". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  14. ^ Reid, Catherin. "Case 201420087 – Weihai Station Limited". linz.govt.nz. Land Information New Zealand.
  15. ^ "School Charter – Waikaretu School" (PDF). waikaretu.school.nz. Waikaretu School.
  16. ^ Strongman, Susan (14 February 2020). "Concerns over secret search for giants' bones near Huntly". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz.
  17. ^ Strongman, Susan (17 February 2020). "Giant skeleton searchers call off dig". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz.
  18. ^ "Official School Website". waikaretu.school.nz.
  19. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  20. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

External links[]

Media related to Waikaretu at Wikimedia Commons

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