Manakau

For the suburb of Auckland, see Manukau. For other uses, see Manakau (disambiguation).

Manakau
Map
Coordinates: 40°42′50″S 175°12′58″E / 40.714°S 175.216°E / -40.714; 175.216
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityHorowhenua
Ward
  • Waiopehu General Ward
  • Horowhenua Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHorowhenua District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Horowhenua MayorBernie Wanden
 • Ōtaki MPTim Costley
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
[1]
 • Total5.66 km2 (2.19 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total500
 • Density88/km2 (230/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Area code04

Manakau is a settlement situated in the Horowhenua District, located at the boundary of the Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington regions of New Zealand's North Island. It lies 8 km north of Ōtaki and 12 km south of Levin, and is connected to both via State Highway 1, which skirts Manakau's western edge. The township is situated 5 km inland from the coast of the Tasman Sea.[3]

In 1886, Manakau became the first place to have a railway station on the newly completed Wellington-Manawatu railway line.[4] Although the line is now part of the North Island Main Trunk line, but the station itself has long been closed. Industries in the area include horticulture,[4] and there are several plant nurseries in or close to the township.

The name Manakau comes from the Māori words mana (prestige, authority) and kau (alone, sole). The name refers to an invasion of the district by notable tribal leader Te Rauparaha, who subdued the area on the strength of his prestige alone, with the local residents putting up no resistance.[5] The streets are named after Māori members of Parliament.[4]

  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. ^ Dowling, P. (ed.) (2004). ’’Reed New Zealand atlas’’. Auckland: Reed Publishing. Map 48. ISBN 0 7900 0952 8
  4. ^ a b c McKinnon, M. "Horowhenua," Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  5. ^ Reed, A.W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 243