Hunterville

Hunterville
Monument paying tribute to Huntaway dogs at Hunterville
Coordinates: 39°56′S 175°34′E / 39.933°S 175.567°E / -39.933; 175.567
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
District	Rangitikei District
Wards	Central General Ward Tiikeitia ki Uta (Inland) Māori Ward
Electorates	Rangitīkei Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Rangitikei District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	3.22 km2 (1.24 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	430
• Density	130/km2 (350/sq mi)

Hunterville is a small town in the Rangitikei district of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located halfway between Taupo and Wellington on State Highway 1, and as of the 2018 census has a population of 408.^[3]

The township was named for George Hunter, who was a member of the Wellington Provincial Council.^[4] It straddles the state highway as well as the main trunk railway in the foothills forming the gateway to the Central Plateau.

The closest airport or airfield to Hunterville is RNZAF Base Ohakea, an important Royal New Zealand Air Force base, which is sited 33 km to the south west. 6 km north of Hunterville is Vinegar Hill.

Hunterville is well known for its statue of the huntaway, a specialised herding dog that uses its voice to drive the sheep. The town festival and market held on the first Saturday after Labour Day has a "Shepherds Shemozzle" – a race with man and dog with shepherds travelling from all over New Zealand to compete for the top prize.^[5]

There are marae south of the town at Rātā, which are affiliated with Ngāti Hauiti hapū. Tāhuhu Marae (or Taahuhu Marae) and Te Ruku a Te Kawau meeting house is a meeting place for Ngāti Haukaha. Rātā or Te Hou Hou or Potaka Marae and Hauiti meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Ruaanga and Ngāti Tamateraka.^[6][7]