Takapau | |
|---|---|
Rural community | |
 Takapau in 1958 | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 40°02′S 176°21′E / 40.033°S 176.350°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Hawke's Bay |
| Territorial authority | Central Hawke's Bay District |
| Ward | Aramoana-Ruahine |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Central Hawke's Bay District Council |
| • Regional council | Hawke's Bay Regional Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.18 km2 (1.23 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 235 m (771 ft) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
| • Total | 700 |
| • Density | 220/km2 (570/sq mi) |
Takapau is a small rural community in the Central Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipukurau, off State Highway 2, and has a population of more than 500.[3]
The original township was founded in 1876 by farmer Sydney Johnston from Oruawharo station. Johnston's family donated land for a school and churches, and built the local library, public hall and, later, Plunket rooms. Many streets are named after members of the family.[3]
Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry, and the community takes its name from the flax that grew in the expansive Takapau plains. The Māori word translates literally as "mat" or "carpet".[3]
The largest business in Takapau is now the Silverfern Farms meat-processing plant, founded by the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Meat Company in 1981. Kintail Honey, one of country's largest honey-packing and beekeeping operations, is also based in the town.[3]
There are two schools in Takapau. The Trappist monastery, the Southern Star Abbey, is also located nearby.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Areawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Pollock, Kerryn. "Takapau". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.