Waitomo

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Waitomo
Waitomo Cave Entrance n.jpg
The entrance to a cave in the Waitomo area
Waitomo
Coordinates: Coordinates: 38°15′38.34″S175°06′12.02″E / 38.2606500°S 175.1033389°E / -38.2606500; 175.1033389
CountryNew Zealand
Region Waikato Region
Territorial authority Waitomo District
Population
 (2018)
 • Total1,185
Time zone UTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+13 (NZDT)
Area code(s) 07

Waitomo is a rural community in the King Country region of New Zealand's North Island. There are several solutional cave systems in the area around the village, which are popular tourist attractions. Restaurants and accommodation are centred in the village to serve visiting tourists.

Contents

The word Waitomo comes from the Māori language: wai meaning water and tomo meaning a doline or sinkhole; it can thus be translated to be "water passing through a hole". [1] The caves are formed in Oligocene limestone. [2]

The historic Waitomo Caves Hotel is located in Waitomo Caves village. [3]

History

The village Waitomo Caves is named for the hundreds of caves present in the spectacular karst landscape.

The limestone landscape of the Waitomo District area has been the centre of increasingly popular commercial caving tourism since before 1900. Initially mostly consisting of impromptu trips guided by local Māori, a large cave system near Waitomo Caves were nationalised by the Crown [4] and managed as a (relatively genteel) tourism attraction from 1904 onwards. [5] A 1915 guide said, "It is reached by railway to Hangatiki, thence 6 miles by coach along a good road". [6]

A visit to Waitomo Caves made number 14 amongst a list of 101 "Kiwi must-do's" in a New Zealand Automobile Association poll of over 20,000 motorists published 2007, [7] and in 2004, around 400,000 visitors entered caves in the area. [5]

The Waitomo Caves Museum provides information about the karst landscape, caves and caving and the history of the area.

Tourist caves

Waitomo Stream flows beneath Ruakuri natural arch. Waitomo Stream.jpg
Waitomo Stream flows beneath Ruakuri natural arch.

Companies specialise in leading tourists through the caves of the area, from easily accessible areas with hundreds of tourists per hour in the peak season, to extreme sports, like crawls into cave systems, which are only seen by a few tourists each day.[ citation needed ]

The caves are noted for their stalactite and stalagmite displays, and (in the caves with streams running through) for the presence of glowworms (the fungus gnat Arachnocampa luminosa ).

Walks

The Waitomo Walkway runs through the valley of the Waitomo Stream (a tributary of the Waipā River) for 3.3 km (2.1 mi) from the village to the Ruakuri Scenic Reserve. [8] At the reserve the Ruakuri Walk leads through short caves to the Ruakuri Natural Bridge. [9]

Te Araroa, a national long distance walkway, passes through Waitomo. The section from Mt Pirongia joins the Waitomo Walkway to enter the village. [10] The 17.5 km (10.9 mi) section to Te Kuiti goes over Mangapu River suspension bridge and through Pehitawa kahikatea forest. [11]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,059—    
20131,101+0.56%
20181,185+1.48%
Source: [12]

The statistical area of Hangatiki, which covers 326 square kilometres, had a population of 1,185 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 84 people (7.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 126 people (11.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 432 households. There were 618 males and 564 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female. The median age was 41.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 240 people (20.3%) aged under 15 years, 213 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 543 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (15.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 72.9% European/Pākehā, 36.5% Māori, 1.3% Pacific peoples, 1.5% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 11.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 57.0% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu and 4.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (14.6%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 219 (23.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 558 (59.0%) people were employed full-time, 165 (17.5%) were part-time, and 21 (2.2%) were unemployed. [12]

Marae

The community has a number of marae, affiliated with Ngāti Maniapoto hapū: [13] [14]

Education

Waitomo Caves School is a co-educational state primary school, [16] [17] with a roll of 20 as of March 2022. [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

Te Kuiti Town in Waikato, New Zealand

Te Kuiti is a town in the north of the King Country region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk railway, 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Hamilton. The town promotes itself as the sheep shearing capital of the world and is host to the annual New Zealand National Shearing Championships.

Taumarunui Town in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Taumarunui is a small town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on an alluvial plain set within rugged terrain on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River, 65 km south of Te Kuiti and 55 km west of Turangi. It is under the jurisdiction of Ruapehu District and Manawatū-Whanganui region.

Otorohanga is a north King Country town in the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 53 kilometres (33 mi) south of Hamilton and 18 kilometres (11 mi) north of Te Kuiti, on the Waipā River. It is a service town for the surrounding dairy-farming district. It is recognised as the "gateway" to the Waitomo Caves and as the "Kiwiana Town" of New Zealand. Until 2007, Otorohanga held a yearly 'Kiwiana Festival.'

Ngāti Maniapoto Māori iwi (tribe) in Aotearoa New Zealand

Ngāti Maniapoto is an iwi (tribe) based in the Waikato-Waitomo region of New Zealand's North Island. It is part of the Tainui confederation, the members of which trace their whakapapa (genealogy) back to people who arrived in New Zealand on the waka (canoe) Tainui. The 2006 New Zealand census shows the iwi to have a membership of 33,627, making it the 7th biggest iwi in New Zealand.

Kawhia Harbour Place in Waikato region, New Zealand

Kawhia Harbour is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke and Aotea Harbour, 40 kilometres southwest of Hamilton. Kawhia is part of the Ōtorohanga District Council and is in the King Country. It has a high-tide area of 68 km2 (26 sq mi) and a low-tide area of 18 km2 (6.9 sq mi).

Pirongia Village in Waikato region, New Zealand

Pirongia is a small town in the Waipa District of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is 12 kilometres to the west of Te Awamutu, on the banks of the Waipā River, close to the foot of the 962 metre Mount Pirongia, which lies in Pirongia Forest Park to the west of the town.

Raetihi Town in Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Raetihi, a small town in the center of New Zealand's North Island, is located at the junction of State Highways 4 and 49 in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. It lies in a valley between Tongariro and Whanganui National Parks, 11 kilometres west of Ohakune's ski fields.

Waikato Tainui, Waikato or Tainui is a group of Māori iwi based in Waikato Region, in the western central region of New Zealand's North Island. It is part of the larger Tainui confederation of Polynesian settlers who arrived to New Zealand on the Tainui waka. The tribe is named after the Waikato River, which plays a large part in its history and culture.

Mokau Village in Waikato region, New Zealand

Mokau is a small town on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, located at the mouth of the Mokau River on the North Taranaki Bight. Mokau is in the Waitomo District and Waikato region local government areas, just north of the boundary with the New Plymouth District and the Taranaki Region. Prior to 1989, the town was classed as being in Taranaki, and there is still a feeling that the community of interest is most associated with New Plymouth, 90 km to the southwest. State Highway 3 passes through the town on its route from Te Kuiti to Waitara and, eventually, New Plymouth.

Frasertown Place in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand

Frasertown is a small settlement in the northern Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's eastern North Island.

Piopio is a small town in the Waitomo District. It is situated on State Highway 3 approximately 23 km from Te Kuiti.

Mangapu River

The Mangapu River is a river of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It has its sources in numerous streams which flow generally northwards from the King Country south of Te Kuiti, the longest of which is the Mangaokewa Stream. These streams join to form the Mangapu close to Te Kuiti, and from here the river flows north, passing close to the east of Waitomo Caves, where the Mangapu caves have the largest entrance in the North Island, before flowing into the Waipā River at Otorohanga.

Ngāti Paretekawa

Ngāti Paretekawa (Paretekawa) are a very numerous hapū of the Ngāti Maniapoto confederation in New Zealand, whose ancestral tribal lands are located in both the northern King Country, including the areas around the Kakepuku, Pirongia, in the vicinity of Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Pokuru, Kakepuku, and Kawhia, with sub-hapu interests in the southern King Country area of the Mokau and Kawhia, at the foothills of Kahuwera Mountain.

Ngāti Te Wehi is a Māori iwi (tribe) based in Kawhia on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island.

Whatawhata Township in Waikato region, New Zealand

Whatawhata, previously also spelt Whata Whata, is a small town in the Waikato region on the east bank of the Waipā River, at the junction of State Highways 23 and 39, 12 km (7.5 mi) from Hamilton. Te Araroa tramping route passes through Whatawhata.

Matangi is a settlement in the Waikato District on the eastern border of Hamilton. It is surrounded by many lifestyle blocks, but the village centre has Matangi School, a garage, Four Square, takeaway and café, Matangi Hall, St David’s church and Matangi recreation reserve.

Marokopa Village in Waikato region, New Zealand

Marokopa is a rural community in Waitomo District and Waikato region of New Zealand. It is located close to the coast between Awakino and Kawhia Harbour. The meshblock includes the coastal township of Marokopa, at the mouth of the Marokopa River, and the south side of the small village of Awamarino, about 10 km (6.2 mi) upstream.

Ongarue

Ongarue is a rural community in the Ruapehu District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located south of Te Kuiti and Waimiha, and north of Taumarunui. It is in meshblock 1041902, which had a population of 54 in 2013.

Rotokawa is a rural community in the Taupo District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

Rangitoto is a rural community in the Waitomo District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

References

  1. ↑ "Waitomo Caves". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966) .
  2. ↑ "The Geological History of New Zealand" . Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Search the List | Waitomo Hotel | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. ↑ Evans, Kate (May–June 2017). "Rock Stars". New Zealand Geographic. The Scenery Preservation Act of 1903 gave the government far-reaching powers to forcibly purchase land, and in 1904 the Waitomo Glowworm Cave was the first place to be nationalised. The landowners were awarded £625 in compensation
  5. 1 2 Caving tourism (from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand)
  6. ↑ Bradbury, E E (1915). The Raglan and Kawhia Districts. Waikato University library: Bradbury. p. 85.
  7. ↑ Dye, Stuart (10 February 2007). "Peaks, sounds, parks and islands tops in Kiwi eyes". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  8. ↑ "Waitomo Walkway". www.doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  9. ↑ "Ruakuri Walk". www.doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Pirongia to Waitomo:Te Araroa – New Zealand's Trail – Waikato / King Country". www.teararoa.org.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "Pehitawa Track:Te Araroa – New Zealand's Trail – Waikato / King Country". www.teararoa.org.nz. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Hangatiki (187100). 2018 Census place summary: Hangatiki
  13. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  14. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  15. ↑ "Tainui Maniapoto - Hapū and Marae". Te Puni Kōkiri . Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Waitomo Caves School Official School Website". waitomocaves.school.nz.
  17. ↑ "Waitomo Caves School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  19. ↑ "Waitomo Caves School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
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