Whenuakura

Whenuakura
Whenuakura
Coordinates: 39°44′8″S 174°31′23″E / 39.73556°S 174.52306°E / -39.73556; 174.52306Coordinates: 39°44′8″S 174°31′23″E / 39.73556°S 174.52306°E / -39.73556; 174.52306
Country New Zealand
Region Taranaki
District South Taranaki District
Population (2006)
  Total 1,002
Whenuakura Marae

Whenuakura is a farming community on State Highway 3 east of Patea, at the southern end of Taranaki on the North Island of New Zealand. The boundary between the Taranaki and Wellington provinces runs through Whenuakura. There is the Whenuakura Primary School and Whenuakura Hall. Whenuakura is also bounded by the Patea and Whenuakura rivers.[1]

The population of the Whenuakura statistical area was 1,002 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 57 from 2001. The statistical area covers a large area to the northeast of Patea and not just the Whenuakura locality.[2]

Whenuakura pa near the Whenuakura River bridge is the marae of the Kaikurakau and Pomotangi hapu. Families at this pa descend from Nga Rauru[3] and Ngati Ruanui,[4](all directly from Rangitawhi and Aotea waka).[5]

The New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell, winner of the 2005 US Open, descends from these iwi. He spent his early childhood at Whenuakura and learned to play golf at the Patea Golf Club about 8 km to the west.

Education

Whenuakura School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 33.[6] The school celebrated 125 years of education in the district in 2002.[7]

References

  1. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 97. ISBN 1-877333-20-4
  2. Quickstats about Whenuakura
  3. Kingi, Taituha. "'Ngā Rauru Kitahi.' Te Ara - the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 19-Sep-2007". Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  4. Sole, Tony. "'Ngāti Ruanui.' Te Ara - the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 19-Sep-2007". Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  5. Taonui, Rāwiri. "'Canoe Traditions.' Te Ara - the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, updated 1-Oct-2007". Retrieved 2008-01-07.
  6. "Te Kete Ipurangi - Whenuakura School". Ministry of Education
  7. "Whenuakura and Opaku Schools and Districts 125 Year Jubilee". Education Gazette New Zealand. 80 (20). 19 November 2001


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