Pongaroa

Pongaroa
Pongaroa Main Street (route 52), looking north
Pongaroa Main Street (route 52), looking north
Map
Coordinates: 40°32′35″S 176°11′28″E / 40.543°S 176.191°E / -40.543; 176.191
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityTararua District
Ward
  • North Tararua General Ward
  • Tamaki nui-a Rua Maori Ward
CommunityDannevirke Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityTararua District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Tararua MayorTracey Collis
 • Wairarapa MPMike Butterick
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2024)[2]
 • Total
80
 • Density73/km2 (190/sq mi)
Postcode
4991

Pongaroa is a town in the Tararua District, in the southeast of the North Island of New Zealand, 110 kilometres southwest of Hastings and 200 kilometres northeast of Wellington. The nearest town is Pahiatua, 50 kilometres to the west. Popular Ākitio Beach is 30 kilometres to the east. The township straddles Route 52, a road between Masterton and Waipukurau.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "tall tree fern" for Pongaroa.[3]

Pongaroa village has a population of about 100, with the surrounding farms bringing the total population to about 300. The area is serviced by Pongaroa School, Pongaroa General Store, Pongaroa Hotel, and Pongaroa Farm Centre. Pongaroa is also the location of the New Zealand Centre for Equine Psychology and Behaviour[4] and Wildside Farm environmental education retreat.[5]

Local volunteers have been responsible for the public toilets, the establishment of a freedom campsite, and improvements to the village centre.[6]

Historically, Pongaroa belonged in the northern Wairarapa area. At one time during the early settlement years in the latter half of the 19th century, the township was much larger: people expected that the Masterton-Napier Railway would run through Pongaroa. However, eventually the Wairarapa Line cut through Pahiatua (1897) and thus that township grew, whilst Pongaroa remained a farming community. Pongaroa became an administrative centre of Akitio County, which functioned between 1899 and 1976.[7]

Pāpāuma marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of the Rangitāne tribes and its Ngāti Mutuahi, Ngāti Pakapaka and Te Hika a Pāpāuma hapū (sub-tribes), is located in the Pangaoroa area.[8] It includes Te Aroha o Aohanga wharenui (meeting house), also known as Pāpāuma.[9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Horse psychology and behavior: equine educational courses by Herdword, credits in equine studies".
  5. ^ "Wild Side Farm".
  6. ^ "Pongaroa".
  7. ^ "Akitio County Council | Archives Central".
  8. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  9. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.