Taihape
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Taihape is a small but picturesque town near the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. It is often the butt of jokes. owing to its "one horse, blink and you'll miss it" reputation and the back-country nature of its inhabitants.
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[edit] Economy
Taihape is a rural supply town and was at its peak during the 1960s, when it was a bustling railway town 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 of the railway system and a general downturn in the farming sector. In recent years with the advent of major tourist attractions Taihape has turned the corner and 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 as a key stopping point for weary and hungry travellers, although only occasional excursion trains now stop at the station. Its 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.
[edit] Geography
Taihape is near the confluence of the Hautapu and Rangitikei rivers about 2,000 feet above sea level. It is in a sheltered valley in the high country of the central North Island, close to the Rangitikei River. Despite its transport links, it is considered to be isolated by most New Zealanders because there are no towns of a comparable size for a considerable distance. Few towns in New Zealand have a steeper street profile, which provides spectacular views across to the Ruahine Ranges. It is surrounded by fertile high country ideal for sheep and deer farming. Its location close to the mountains, rivers and lakes has made it ideal as a service point for hunting and outdoor tourism. Its position at the southern edge of the volcanic plateau ensures that it gets its fair share of seismic activity.
The road south first twists & winds through "the Mangaweka's" rugged hill country farmland, through the township of Mangaweka, and eventually down onto the Manawatu Plains, some 100 km south.
North of Taihape the road and railway first cross the wide volcanic plateau (with the volcanoes Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe, and Mount Tongariro) and the Rangipo Desert before the road reaches Lake Taupo and the more hospitable country beyond Taupo at the north end of the lake, while the railway turns briefly westward through Ohakune on its way to the Raurimu Spiral at the north-west edge of the plateau.
There are few transport links to the west due to rugged hill country, and only the rugged Gentle Annie Road to the east over a mountain range to the port city of Napier. Before State Highway 1 and the railway were built the latter road was the main route in or out of what was then an extremely isolated community.
[edit] History
The Taihape region was originally inhabited by local Maori tribes who lived in the area well before the arrival of Europeans in the mid 1800s. Descendants of these tribes still live in the area. Taihape was also known as Otaihape, and was later settled and farmed by Europeans who had moved north mainly from Canterbury in the South Island, drawn by the promise of land and work. Many of the original families have descendants still living in the area. 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 decent roads and railways in the early 1900s, Taihape, like other rural towns, remained largely an isolated pioneer settlement. It developed as a key railway and transport town, reaching its peak of population and activity during the heydays of the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately the town declined during the downturn of the 1980s and today it is largely a refreshment stop for travellers and a service point for a few essential services that remain in the town.
[edit] People
Taihape has a population of around 2,000 people. (It was about 3,500 in the 1960s, but declined in parallel with many rural towns.)
It has a primary school (motto: Nulla Vestiga Restrorum, never look back) and a secondary school (motto: step forward together). The secondary school is reputed to be the second smallest in the country. In April 2004 the education minister, Trevor Mallard, decided that the secondary school and the primary school were to combine and pool their resources to become an Area School. The making of this school has raised conflict between many Taihape locals, especially regarding the change in the choice of site. Many angry Taihapites wrote letters to the editor of the small community paper, the Central District Times, concerning this sudden and unexpected development. However the new school is set to be built with new state-of-the-art features with an approximate $10 million budget. Many see this as an attempt to buy off Taihape. There have also been rumours that the were offers to buy the secondary school site to make a prison, however these were denied by many people. It also has the integrated St Joseph's Catholic School (motto: Christus Dux Nostrum, Christ Our Leader), which opened its doors in 1916. Currently it has approximately 130 students.
[edit] Fame
For most New Zealanders who are aware of it at all, Taihape is a place through which they may pass on their way north or south, perhaps stopping for a snack or meal. This perception dates back to when the Day Express on the North Island Main Trunk Railway would stop for passengers to alight to stretch their legs and queue to grab a snack to eat at the railway dining room.
They may also have heard of Gumboot Day, the Tuesday after Easter, first celebrated on Tuesday 9 April 1985. This was cleverly devised by local business people who realised that they could never rid the town of its rural backwater image, so they would instead capitalise on it. It seems to have worked. How many other towns, of similar size, are known country-wide?
Taihape's second claim to fame is due to it being regarded (along with Eketahuna) as the archetypical small New Zealand farming town. This reputation was greatly enhanced when entertainer John Clarke used it as a location for his Fred Dagg comedy persona.
Another reason why most New Zealanders have at least heard of Taihape is that it is a separate district in the Met. Service weather forecasts (although sometimes included in the Central Plateau region).
