Kumeu (district)

Infobox Settlement
name = Kumeu
population_total = 6603
population_as_of = 2006
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = New Zealand
subdivision_type1= Region
subdivision_name1= Auckland Region
subdivision_type2= District
subdivision_name2= Rodney District
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = top
latd = 36
latm = 46
lats = 33
latNS = S
longd = 174
longm = 33
longs = 19
longEW = E

Kumeu is a small town 25 km north-west of the Auckland City centre in New Zealand. State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through the town. Huapai lies to the west, Riverhead to the north, Whenuapai to the east, West Harbour to the south-east, and Taupaki to the south. [cite book|title=Reed New Zealand Atlas|year=2004|id=ISBN 0-7900-0952-8|author=Peter Dowling (editor)|publisher=Reed Books|pages=map 11] [cite book|title=The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand|year=2005|id=ISBN 1-877333-20-4|author=Roger Smith, GeographX|publisher=Robbie Burton|pages=map 35]

The population was 6,603 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 933 from 2001. [cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/auckland-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Rodney District|publisher=Statistics New Zealand]

Settlement and statistics

The district was originally settled by immigrants from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, many of whom were part of traditional winegrowing families. At the 2001 Census, the median income of people in the Kumeu area unit was $23,800, compared with $19,500 for Rodney District and $18,500 for all of New Zealand. The unemployment rate in Kumeu was 3.8 percent, compared with Rodney District percent for 5.1 and 7.5 percent for all of New Zealand. There were 775 business locations (geographic units) in Kumeu. [ [http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/Web/CommProfiles.nsf/htmldocs/Kumeu+Community+Profile Kumeu Community Profile] ]

Industry

Areas surrounding the Kumeu district produce labels such as "Kumeu River", "Cooper's Creek" and "Matua Valley", and "Nobilo's" have gained a good reputation for their Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines. The wine growing district is the main industry in both Kumeu itself and the smaller nearby settlements of Huapai and Waimauku.
* "Kumeu River Wines", established in 1944. [ [http://www.kumeuriver.co.nz/history.htm Kumeu River History] ]
* "Coopers Creek", established in 1980. [ [http://www.cooperscreek.co.nz/history/history.html Coopers Creek - History] ]
* "Landmark Estate", founded in 1937. [ [http://www.landmarkestate.co.nz/history.html Landmark Estate - History] ]
* "Matua Valley"
* "Nobilos" was established in 1943 by Nikola Nobilo and remained family owned until the late 1990s. Now known as Nobilo Wine Group, the company is New Zealand's second largest wine company.

Activities

The area is popular for lifestyle block farming and equestrian pursuits. The Kumeu Agricultural and Horticultural Society hosts one of the largest annual shows in the Southern Hemisphere on 34 hectares (80 acres) of land owned by the Kumeu District Agricultural and Horticultural Society, on the second weekend in March every year. The nearby localities of Woodhill forest and Muriwai Beach means it has strong recreational interests.

Music

Since 1948 Kumeu has had a brass band, competing in many events, and playing in parades, concerts & private Functions, traditional & modern music for all occasions. [ [http://www.kumeubrass.org.nz/history.php Kumeu Brass - Our History] ]

The Kumeu Showgrounds are also the venue for the annual Auckland Folk Festival, a 4-day event of music, dancing and workshops, now in its 28th year. [ [http://www.aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz Auckland Folk Festival] ] The festival is generally held over the last weekend in January.

Transport

The North Auckland railway line passes through Kumeu, and for six years the town was the terminus of the isolated Kumeu-Riverhead Section railway. This line linked Kumeu to Riverhead, where ferries ran to Auckland, and operated from 1875 until 1881. In 1881, the North Auckland Line reached Kumeu, making the town a railway junction. This status lasted a mere five days; the new railway from Auckland made the line to Riverhead redundant and it was accordingly closed.

In June 2007 it was announcedcite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200706281554/commuter_train_services_to_return_to_helensville|title=Commuter train services to return to Helensville|author=Radio New Zealand|accessdate=2007-06-28] that suburban rail services would be extended to Helensville in 2008, with temporary stations to be built at Huapai and Waimauku. The service commenced on 14 July 2008 for a one-year trial period.cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=New commuter train services |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10521371&ref=rss
work= |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=2008-07-14 |accessdate=2008-07-14]

Education

The only school is Kumeu is the state integrated Hare Krishna School, which is a coeducational full primary serving years 1-8 with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 72. [cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=4204|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Hare Krishna School|publisher=Ministry of Education]

The majority of primary school-age students attend schools in surrounding suburbs. The closest secondary schools are Massey High School, Liston College, Albany Junior High School, Kaipara College and St Dominic's College. Some students commute by train to Marist College (girls) or St Peter's College (boys).

Place names

Māori place names: [ [http://www.nz-fobbly.com/rodneynz/web_pages/kumhua/p2.htm Kumeu and Districts History] ]
* Huapai – good fruit
* Kumeu – pulling the breast (action used to incite a war party)
* Muriwai – backwater or junction of streams

External links

* [http://www.kumeudistrict.co.nz/ Kumeu District - The Fruit Bowl of Auckland]
* [http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/AbtCit/cp/pdf/hdsnhistory.pdf History of Henderson pdf]
* [http://www.nz-fobbly.com/rodneynz/web_pages/kumhua/index.htm Kumeu Community portal]
* [http://www.harekrishna.school.nz/ Hare Krishna School website]

References