- Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the
Waikato region of theNorth Island ofNew Zealand . It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on theNorth Island Main Trunk Railway , 70 km south of Hamilton.As of the 2001 census it had a resident population of 4,374, a decrease of 5.1% since 1991. The town promotes itself as the
sheep shearing capital of the world and is host to the annual New Zealand National Shearing Championships.Location
Te Kuiti is approximately 80 km south of Hamilton and 19 km south-east of
Waitomo . The area around Te Kuiti, commonly known as theKing Country , gives its name to the Heartland Championship rugby team based in Te Kuiti.History
Te Kuiti is the Maori name given to the area. In its original form of "Te Kuititanga", it literally means "the valley", "the squeezing in" or "the narrowing". [ [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/T/TeKuiti/TeKuiti/en] Te Ara Encyclopedia of NZ]
Tourism
The "Shearing Capital of the World" contains the world's largest shearer, seven metres high. On
April 1 , 2006 the largest sheep show in the world took place here, with more than 2000 sheep. [ Television NZ News. 1 April 2006]The carved Te
Tokanganui-A-Noho Meeting House was gifted to the local Maori people (Ngati Maniapoto ) byTe Kooti , a famous Maori leader.The Tatsuno Japanese Garden is at the southern end of the main street. [ [http://www.newzealand.com/travel/destinations/regions/waikato/waikato-towns.cfm/nodeid/241.html] retrieved 31 January 2008]
Geology
Limestone deposits and water have created the
Waitomo Caves , northwest of the town, one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist locations.Te Kuiti notables
*All Black
Kevin Boroevich [ [http://stats.allblacks.com/Profile.asp?ABID=74 New Zealand All Blacks Player Profiles, Match Details and Statistics ] ]
*All Black greatColin Meads called Te Kuiti home until November 2007. The auction of his farm caused nationwide interest [ [http://www.daylife.com/article/07LA0fV8TVgLh] retrieved January 2008] .
*World Champion Sheep ShearerDavid Fagan [ [http://www.listener.co.nz/issue/3333/columnists/1695/first_fifteen.html] Listener retrieved 31 January 2008]
*AuthorRuth Park grew up here.
*FormerPrime Minister of New Zealand Jim Bolger held the local electorate of King Country. [ [http://www.michaelbassett.co.nz/article_bolger.htm] Profile byMichael Bassett retrieved 31 January 2008]
*Tony Martin, Australian-based comedian and author, was born here [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/18/1058035182454.html] The Melbourne Age, retrieved 31 January 2008]
*Les Munro the last surviving pilot from the Dambusters air raid was mayor for some years and has a street named in his honour. [ [http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3676006] bayofplentytimes.co.nz retrieved 31 January 2008]External links
* [http://www.waitomo.govt.nz/info.html Waitomo District Council Te Kuiti Information Centre]
* [http://www.zoomin.co.nz/waitomo/Te%20Kuiti Map of Te Kuiti and surrounding area]References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
