Taumarunui

Infobox Settlement
name=Taumarunui


mapsize=160px
subdivision_type=Country
subdivision_name=NZL
subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1=Manawatu-Wanganui
subdivision_type2=Territorial authority
subdivision_name2=Ruapehu District
subdivision_type3=Ward
subdivision_name3=Taumarunui
named_for= Maori: "taumaru" = screen + "nui" = big.
population_urban=5136
area_code=07

Taumarunui coord|38|53.0|S|175|15.7|E|region:NZ_type:city(5136)|display=title is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway.

The town is on an alluvial plain set within rugged terrain on the upper reaches of the Whanganui River, 65 km south of Te Kuiti and 55 km west of Turangi. Its population is 5136 (2001 census), making it the largest centre for a considerable distance in any direction.

The name Taumarunui is reported to be the dying words of the Māori chief Pehi Turoa - "taumaru" meaning screen and "nui" big, literally translated as Big Screen, being built to shelter him from the sun. There are also references to Taumarunui being known as large sheltered location for growing kumara (a form of sweet potato from South America).

Locality

The Ngapuwaiwaha Marae is located on Taumarunui Street.

On State Highway 4 south of Taumarunui are the villages of Manunui, Piriaka, Kakahi, Owhango, Raurimu and then National Park. To the north are the school and truck stop of Mapiu.

History

Taumarunui was originally a Maori settlement at the junction of the ongarue and whanganui rivers, important canoe routes linking the interior of the island with the lower Wanganui River settlements. Certain localities in the neighbourhood, notably the valley of the Pungapunga Stream, which joins the upper Wanganui near Manunui, were celebrated for the size and quality of totara, and large canoes were built there. The area is also notable in that it was a border area between anumber of iwi including Whangaui, Ngati Maniapoto and Ngati Tuwharetoa who lived together in relative harmony. [ [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/T/Taumarunui/Taumarunui/en TAUMARUNUI - 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand ] ]

Late in December 1843 Bishop Selwyn travelled from the district south of Taupo to a point on the Wanganui River about 6 miles down stream from Taumarunui and there continued his journey to the coast by canoe. Towards the end of 1869 Te Kooti was at Taumarunui before his march through the western Taupo district to Tapapa. In the early 1880s the first surveys of the King Country commenced and by the early 1890s the Crown had begun the purchase of large areas of land.

In 1874 Alexander Bell set up a training post, and became the first European settler. The town has a road called Bell Road.

During the Hauhau troubles a resident named William Moffatt manufactured and supplied the enemy with a coarse kind of gunpowder. He was afterwards expelled from the district. Despite warnings he returned in 1880, ostensibly to prospect for gold, and was executed.

The Wanganui River long continued to be the principal route serving Taumarunui. Traffic was at first by Maori canoe, but by the late 1880s regular steamship communication was established. Taumarunui Landing ( [http://www.riverboats.homestead.com/files/Riverboat_Mix_06.jpgImage] ) was the last stop on Alexander Hatrick's steam boat service from Wanganui. The river vessels maintained the services between Wanganui and Taumarunui until the late 1920s, when the condition of the river deteriorated.

Later Taumarunui gained importance with the construction of the North Island Main Trunk Line in 1908 (celebrated in a ballad by Peter Cape). The line south of Taumarunui caused considerable problems due to the terrain, and has several high viaducts and the famous Raurimu Spiral. The Stratford - Okahukura Line to Stratford connects just north of Taumarunui. In more recent times, the town's economy has been based on forestry and farming. It has gained in importance as a tourism centre, especially as an entry point for voyagers down the scenic Wanganui River and as the possessor of a high quality golf course.

Timeline

* 1869 - Te Kooti in Taumarunui
* 1900 - town-to-be reportedly held only 13 European males. [Craig 1990, 1900 p.143]
* 1903 - Railway line passes through Taumarunui.
* 1904 - £10,000 Houseboat built then floated to Ohura river junction. In 1927 this is transferred down river to Retaruke River junction where it was destroyed by fire in 1933.
* 1906 - Native town council set up.
* 1906, September 14 - First issue of the Taumarunui Press.
* 1907 - First hospital erected, 5 beds.
* 1910 - George Henry Thompson defeated Rev John E. Ward (166 to 143 votes) to become the first borough council mayor.
* 1915 - Taumarunui Hospital Board formed, 30 beds.
* 1915 - Only a single car in town. [Craig 1990, First car p.143]
* 1915-1917 - Mayor: G.S. Steadman [Craig 1990, 1915-1917 p.143] .
* 1917-1919 - Mayor: A.S. Laird [Craig 1990, 1917-1919 p.143] .
* 1919-1923 - Mayor: G.S. Steadman [Craig 1990, 1919-1923 p.143] .
* 1923-1925 - Mayor: C.C. Marsack [Craig 1990, 1923-1925 p.143] .
* 1925-1929 - Mayor: G.E. Manson [Craig 1990, 1925-1929 p.143] .
* 1928 - Four thousand bales of wool shipped down river
* 1929-1944 - Mayor: Crawford Boles [Craig 1990, 1929-1944 p.143] .
* 1939 - Hatricks's steamer finally ceased running, final section of the journey having been done by coach from Kirikau landing since 1927.
* 1944-1947 - W.S.N. Campbell [Craig 1990, 1944-1947 p.143] .
* 1947-1953 - Mayor: D.H. Hall [Craig 1990, 1947-1953 p.143] .
* 1951 census, 3,220
* 1953-1956 - Mayor: David C. Seath - later to become Member of Parliament for the King Country
* 1956 - Mayor: Frank D. House - later to become the Taumarunui High School governor.
* 1956 - Census: 3,341
* 1961 - Census: 4,961
* 1968 - N.Z. Sportsmen's dinner - attended by Fred Allen, Peter Snell, Waka Nathan, Colin Meads, Bob Skelton, Taini Jamieson, Tilley Vercoe, Ivan Grattan, Bill Wordley, Don Croot, Trevor Ormsby, Hine Peni and Sonny Bolstad [cite web |url=http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao64TeA/c20.html |title=Taumarunui Queen Carnival |accessmonthday=Jun 10 |accessyear=2008 |last= |first= |date=September–November 1968 |work=Te Ao Hou THE MAORI MAGAZINE |publisher=Deptartment Maori and Islands Affairs ] .
* 1988 - Taumarunui District Council formed.
* 1997/98 - AFFCO Holdings freezing works closes.
* 2001 - Census: 5,136Town Mayors immediately prior to 1988 include: Charles Binzegger, Les Byars and Terry Podman [Craig 1990, pre 1988 mayors p.143] .

Notable personalities

* T.J. Meredith - great-grandson of Theodore of Corsica, joined Royal Navy age 14, CSS Louisiana in 1862 American Civil War, under General Cameron Maori wars, Waikato Mounted Rifles World War I, before coming the proprietor of Taumarunui's Meredith House with wife Margeret Lovet. [Craig 1990, T.J. Meredith p.147]

Students of Taumarunui High School

* Prof. James L. Beck - [http://www.its.caltech.edu/~jimbeck/ Professor of Engineering and Applied Science] , California Institute of Technology.
* Prof. John C. Butcher - [http://www.math.auckland.ac.nz/~butcher/ Honorary Research Professor, Dept. of Mathematics] , University of Auckland.
* Ben Fouhy, [http://www.benfouhy.com World Champion Kayaker] .
* Marc and Todd Hunter from the band Dragon.

Born in Taumarunui

* Jillian Smith (June 12, 1958), New Zealand field hockey player
* Joe Karam (November 21, 1951), New Zealand Rugby Union player
* Mahinarangi Tocker, singer
* Ivan Mercep 1930, the 2008 recipient of the NZIA Gold Medal.
* Timothy J. Sinclair (December 7, 1963), political scientist
* Ian Ferguson (July 20, 1952), Olympic Canoer

Notes

References

cite book |title=The King Country |last=Craig |first=Dick |authorlink= |year=1990 |publisher=Waitomo News |location=Waitomo |ref=Craig1990 .

External links

* [http://www.taumarunui.co.nz The Business]
* [http://www.ruapehutourism.co.nz/TAUMARUNUI_HISTORY.htm Local History]
* [http://www.taumarunuihigh.school.nz/ Taumarunui High School]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/waypoint/NZ/TM.html Taumarunui Airfield] (Location of an annual Tiger Moth Fly-in)
* [http://www.riverboats.homestead.com/RiverboatLandings.html River Boat Landings]
* Peter Cape's song "Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line " [http://folksong.org.nz/taumarunui/index.html]