Arapuni

Arapuni
Rural settlement
Arapuni Suspension Bridge
Arapuni Suspension Bridge
Map
Coordinates: 38°04′S 175°39′E / 38.067°S 175.650°E / -38.067; 175.650
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato Region
DistrictSouth Waikato District
WardPutāruru Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Waikato District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
Area
[1]
 • Total1.83 km2 (0.71 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total320
 • Density170/km2 (450/sq mi)

Arapuni is a rural town centre on the Waikato river in the South Waikato District of New Zealand. The town sits next to the Arapuni Dam, a hydroelectric dam at Lake Arapuni commissioned in 1929. The Arapuni Power Station consists of eight turbines which give a total output of 196 MW, the largest of the power stations on the Waikato river. The Arapuni hydro station is owned and operated by Mercury Energy.[3]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "blocked path" for Arapuni.[4]

The Arapuni Suspension Bridge below the dam is freely open to public.

The name Arapuni derives from Ara, meaning path and puni, meaning blocked or covered, and translates as blocked or covered path.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ^ "Arapuni". Mighty River Power. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
  4. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.