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Waikato (also Waikato Region) is a Region of New Zealand. With coasts on the western and north-eastern sides of the North Island, it stretches from Lake Taupo and northern King Country in the south, north to the Coromandel Peninsula. It is bounded by Auckland on the north, Bay of Plenty on the east, Hawke's Bay on the south-east, and Manawatu-Wanganui and Taranaki on the south. Waikato Region is the 4th-largest region in the country in terms of both area and population:[2] it has an area of 25,000 km² and a population of 472,100 (June 2018).[1] The Region encompasses all or part of twelve separate territorial authorities, the most by any region of New Zealand. In descending order of land area the territorial authorities are Taupo District (part), Waitomo District (part), Waikato District, Thames-Coromandel District, Otorohanga District, South Waikato District, Matamata-Piako District, Waipa District, Franklin District (part), Hauraki District, Rotorua District (part), and Hamilton City. In 2010 Franklin District is scheduled to be dissolved and its part within Waikato Region transferred to Waikato District.
| Environment Waikato Waikato Regional Council | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
 | |
| Regional Council | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Environment Waikato |
| Chair: | Peter Buckley |
| Population: | 472,100 June 2018 [1] |
| Land Area: | approximately 25,000 km2, or 2.5 million hectares |
| Website: | http://www.ew.govt.nz |
| Tangata whenua | |
| Local iwi | Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa |
| Cities and Towns | |
| Cities: | Hamilton |
| Towns: | Cambridge, Coromandel, Huntly, Matamata, Miranda, Morrinsville, Ngaruawahia, Ngatea, Paeroa, Pirongia, Putaruru, Raglan, Taupiri, Taupo, Te Aroha, Te Awamutu, Te Kauwhata, Te Kowhai, Te Kuiti, Thames, Tirau, Tokoroa, Waihi |
| Constituent Territorial Authorities | |
| Names: | Hamilton City Waikato District South Waikato District Waipa District Thames-Coromandel District Matamata-Piako District Waitomo District (part) Otorohanga District Franklin District (part) Hauraki District Taupo District (part) Rotorua District (part) |
| Websites: | |
Cities and towns
The city of Hamilton is the major centre, with an urban population in 2006 of 158,500. It is home to University of Waikato and Wintec. The towns of Tokoroa, Te Awamutu and Cambridge each have approximately 10,000 to 15,000 people in the actual townships and surrounding rural areas. The region also includes the smaller towns of Huntly, Matamata, Morrinsville, Ngaruawahia, Otorohanga, Putaruru, Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Te Kuiti, and Tirau. Other towns within the Waikato Region, but outside the traditional Waikato area, include Tuakau and Mercer, south of Auckland; Paeroa, Te Aroha, Thames, Whangamata, and Whitianga around the Thames Valley and Coromandel Peninsula; and Taupo (population 22,300) and Turangi in the southeast.
Traditional area
The term "Waikato" (also the Waikato) is a traditional area within the current Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand, around the city of Hamilton and extending along the banks of the Waikato River. This area excludes some parts of the Waikato Region, namely the Coromandel Peninsula and Thames Valley in the north-east and around and to the north of Lake Taupo in the southeast. It gets its name from the Waikato River; waikato is a Māori word meaning flowing water.[citation needed] This area is home to the Waikato iwi (tribe), which some authors identify as the source of the area's name.[3]
Prior to the founding of New Zealand's counties, regions and territorial authorities, the Waikato was a notable Maori area; see Invasion of Waikato.
Geography
In the west, the region is bounded by the Tasman Sea. The coastal region is largely rough hill country, known locally as the Hakarimata Range, though it is more gently undulating in the north, closer to the mouth of the Waikato River. The coast is punctured by three large natural harbours: Raglan Harbour, Aotea Harbour, and Kawhia Harbour. The area around Raglan is noted for its volcanic black sand beaches, and also for its fine surfing conditions at Manu Bay and Ruapuke beach.
To the east of the coastal hills lies the broad floodplain of the Waikato River. The region has a wet temperate climate, and the land is largely pastoral farmland created by European settlers draining the extensive natural swamps, although it also contains undrained peat swamp. It is in the broad undulatingWaikato Plains that most of the region's population resides, and the land is intensively farmed with both livestock ,mainly dairy cattle but with sheep farming on the hillier west margins and crops (such as maize). The area around Cambridge has many thoroughbred stables.
The north of the region around Te Kauwhata produces some of New Zealand's best wines. Dozens of small shallow lakes lie in this area, the largest of which is Lake Waikare.
To the east, the land rises towards the forested slopes of the Kaimai and Mamaku Ranges. The upper reaches of the Waikato River are used for hydroelectricity, helped by several large artificial lakes in the region's southeast, the lowest and earliest-created being Lake Karapiro, now developed as a world-class rowing centre where the world championships will be held in 2010. The river flows out of the country's largest lake, Lake Taupo, which is served by several important fishing rivers such as the Tongariro, on the Central Plateau, draining the eastern side of Mount Ruapehu and its neighbours.
Economy
The Waikato region is the fourth largest regional economy in New Zealand after Auckland Region, Canterbury Region, and Wellington Region.
Waikato Gross Regional Product for the year ended March 2007 is estimated to be $15,606 million compared with $12,493 million in March 2004. [4]
Between the years 2000 and 2004, Waikato economic growth was lower than the national average. But from 2004 to 2007, real Gross Regional Product (GRP) for the Waikato region increased by 5 per cent per year compared with 3.2 per cent for the national average. This faster growth can be attributed to rapidly growing dairy and business services industries, facilitated by proximity to the Auckland city, the main international gateway for New Zealand.[5]
The Waikato economy has traditionally been highly reliant on agriculture, especially dairy. Dairy farming has been the main agricultural activity since the nineteenth century. Dairy cattle farming and dairy processing combined contributed $2 billion (13%) to GRP in 2007. Business services is the second largest sector in the Waikato region, contributing $1.2 billion or 8 per cent of GRP in 2007.
History
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the Waikato contained the third most densely populated part of New Zealand,after Northland /Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.The Waikato rohe(area) was inhabited by iwi such as Ngāti Toa and Tainui.
The Waikato has a prominent history, particularly regarding relationships between Māori and European in early colonial New Zealand. The Waikato was within the defined boundaries of the colonial provinces of New Ulster (1841–1853) and Auckland (1853–1876), but was principally Māori. During the Land Wars of the 1860s, the Waikato was the scene of major bloodshed in what is referred to as the Invasion of the Waikato. In retaliation for the help Waikato Māori(mainly Maniapoto) gave Taranaki Māori in their confict over land in the earlier First Taranaki War,and the decision by The Waikato tribes to form a separate Kingdom-the Kingitanga,in oppostion to the government, the colonial government — with the help of troops brought from Britain — pushed south from the main settlement of Auckland, fighting several defensive lines organised by the combined iwi of the King Movement. During 1863 and 1864 fighting occurred at Pukekohe East ,Meremere,Rangiriri, Ngaruawahia, Rangiaowhia (southwest of Cambridge),Hairini Ridge and Orakau (near Kihi kihi)all resulting in defeat for the Kingitanga forces. Eventually the King Movement forces pulled back to positions in the area to the south of the Punui River in South Waikato, still known as the King Country. The Orakau siege was immortalised in one of New Zealand's first motion pictures, Rewi's Last Stand in 1925.
The National Marae, Turangawaewae, is at Ngaruawahia. It is the seat of Māori King Tuheitia Paki.
People
The people of the Waikato use the nickname Mooloo to apply to themselves or to their region, particularly in relation to sporting endeavours. The word was likely first applied to the Waikato provincial rugby team. Its origin is related to the mascot of a pantomime-like milking cow used in parades, public events and sports matches — particularly rugby, reflecting the importance of the dairy industry to the region. Waikato hosts the Chiefs Super 14 rugby team and Waikato Air New Zealand Cup rugby team at Waikato Stadium and the Northern Districts Knights in domestic cricket at Seddon Park, both in Hamilton.
Notable people from this area
- Jim Bolger — former Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Helen Clark — former Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Don Clarke — Rugby international
- The Datsuns — rock band
- Tim and Neil Finn — songwriters and musicians (Split Enz, Crowded House)
- Rangimarie Hetet — of Oparure Marae. Died aged 103 years; regarded as living treasure of Māori handcrafts, with honorary degrees.
- Dame Malvina Major — acclaimed international singer
- Bruce McLaren — motor racing driver and team founder
- Colin Meads — rugby international
- Richard O'Brien — writer of the international cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Simon Poelman — New Zealand's best ever all-round athlete/Decathlete, World's top athlete
- Eva Rickard — of Tainui descent; leader and defender of Māori land rights
- Hilda Ross — humanitarian, first woman elected to the Hamilton Borough Council, MP
- Frank Sargeson — celebrated NZ writer.
- Peter Snell, gold medal winning distance runner at the 1964 Olympics
- Dame Catherine Tizard (nee Mclean) — Former Mayor of Auckland and first woman Governor-General of New Zealand
- Mark Todd — Olympic equestrian, "Horseman of the Century"
- Te Atairangikaahu — Māori Queen 1966-2006
- Te Puea Herangi — Māori princess and leader
- Te Rauparaha — Māori chieftain and warrior
- Tuheitia Paki — Māori King 2006-present
- Wiremu Tamihana Te Piripi Te Waharoa — Māori King King maker
- Jools and Lynda Topp — comedy duo
- Tawera Nikau — Rugby league footballer and sports broadcaster
References
- ^ a b "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2019". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020. For urban areas, "Subnational population estimates (UA, AU), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996, 2001, 2006–18 (2017 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "About the Waikato region". Environment Waikato. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ Carolyn Bain, George Dunford, Korina Miller, Sally O'Brien, Charles Rawlings-Way (2006). New Zealand (13th ed.). Lonely Planet. ISBN 1741045355. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) page 232 - ^ "2009 Waikato Economic Report". Environment Waikato. 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
- ^ "2009 Waikato Economic Report". Environment Waikato. 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
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