Tangiwai

Tangiwai
Rural community
Map
Coordinates: 39°27′57″S 175°34′35″E / 39.465856°S 175.576329°E / -39.465856; 175.576329
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictRuapehu District
Ward
  • Ruapehu General Ward
  • Ruapehu Māori Ward
CommunityWaimarino-Waiouru Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityRuapehu District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
Postcode(s)
4691

Tangiwai is a 2,696.66 km2 (1,041.19 sq mi)[1] census area[2] and a small rural community in the Ruapehu District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Ohakune and Rangataua and west of Waiouru on State Highway 49.[3] In 2018 37.5% of the area's 1,281 residents worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing and 7.1% in manufacturing.[4]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "weeping water" for Tangiwai.[5]

New Zealand's worst rail accident, the Tangiwai disaster, occurred near Tangiwai on 24 December 1953. The Whangaehu River rail bridge collapsed beneath a Wellington-to-Auckland express passenger train. The locomotive and first six carriages derailed into the river, killing 151 people. The subsequent Board of Inquiry found that the accident was caused by the collapse of the tephra dam holding back nearby Mount Ruapehu's crater lake, creating a large lahar in the Whangaehu River, which destroyed one of the bridge piers at Tangiwai only minutes before the train reached the bridge.[6] A memorial has been built at the accident site.

Tirorangi Marae and Rangiteauria meeting house is located in the Tangiwai area.[7] It is a traditional meeting ground of the Ngāti Rangi hapū of Ngāti Rangihaereroa, Ngāti Rangiteauria and Ngāti Tongaiti.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Area was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "2018 Census place summaries". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Tangiwai, Manawatu-Wanganui". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Industry sector of employment | Ruapehu District Council | Community profile". profile.idnz.co.nz. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Christmas lost, Le Cren, John". National Library of New Zealand - natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  8. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.