Taumarunui is a small 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. It is under the jurisdiction of Ruapehu District, Manawatu-Wanganui Region.
Map of Taumarunui, New Zealand
It 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 4,500 (2013 census, this is down 14% from the 2001 census), still 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, or more commonly known to mean - "The place of big shelter". There are also references to Taumarunui being known as large sheltered location for growing kumara.
In the 1980s publication Roll Back the Years there are some details on how Taumarunui got its name. Extract: "According to Frank T Brown, who wrote in the Taumarunui Press in 1926, the name Taumarunui is closely connected with the arrival of and conquering of that portion of the King Country by the Whanganui River natives during the 18th century . . . The war party that succeeded in capturing the principal pa and taking prisoner the chief of the district was headed by "Ki Maru". His warriors, to show their appreciation of his prowess and the honour of the victory, acclaimed him "Tau-maru-nui", which means "Maru the Great", or "Maru the Conqueror", that name was taken for the district and has been used ever since."
Township and borough
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.
Taumarunui County was defined in the Waikato and King-country Counties Act 1922, this statute states:
Then subsequently in 1952 the Kaitieke County and the Ohura County were amalgamated with a new Taumarunui County.
Then in 1988 the Taumarunui District Council was formed only to be replaced in 1989 as it was merged into the now Ruapehu District Council.
Ngāpuwaiwaha marae is on Taumarunui Street; its main hapū are Ngāti Haua and Ngāti Hauaroa of the iwi Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi.
Taumarunui has many societies and community organizations. It has a Cosmopolitan Club and RSA, a Lodge of the Freemasons as well as Taumarunui Lodge NZ № 12 of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Grand Council. This Lodge of the Buffaloes was established sometime in the mid-late 1920s and thus predates the introduction of the Mighty NZR KA class steam locomotives that became the hallmark of NIMT Rail Transport of the forties, fifties and sixties.
Taumarunui was originally a Maori settlement at the confluence of the Ongarue River with the Whanganui, important canoe routes linking the interior of the island with the lower Whanganui River settlements. Some places, 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 a border area between a number of iwi including Whanganui, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, who lived together in relative harmony.
Late in December 1843 Bishop Selwyn travelled from the district south of Taupo to a point on the Whanganui River about six miles downstream from Taumarunui and thence 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 trading post, and became the first European settler. The town has a road called Bell Road.
During the New Zealand Land Wars a resident named William Moffatt manufactured and supplied Maori 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 Whanganui 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 (Image) 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 completion of the North Island Main Trunk Line in 1908-09 (celebrated in a ballad by Peter Cape about the station refreshment room). 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 connected 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.
1862, 8/9 February - James Coutts Crawford visits, was given a number of old songs and "various accounts of the taniwha, one of whom we were told overthrew the Wangaehu bridge."1864 - Boundaries of the King Country drawn and European settlement is prohibited.1869 - Te Kooti in Taumarunui.1871 - Thomas McDonnell in area following up on reports of gold. Claimed to have found goldbearing quartz in the creeks of 'Taurewa' [1].1874 - Alexander Bell set up a trading post, and became the first European settler.1880 - Moffatt and Henaro travel to the village of Matahaura, where William Moffatt is subsequently executed at Matapuna.1883 - John Rochford's survey party start surveying the rail route through the King Country.1884 - Prohibition to European settlement lifted. Alcohol prohibition established.1885 - Photographer Alfred Burton, artist Edward Payton and surveyor John Rochford tour Te Rohe Pōtae along with time in Taumarunui.1885, 10 Dec - First post office opened in Taumarunui (under the name 'Taumaranui') as part of the Hamilton Postal District, closes 1887.1900 - town-to-be reportedly held only 13 European males.1901 - Railways line joining Te Kuiti to Taumarunui opened.1903 - Railway line passes through Taumarunui, and Taumarunui Railway Station opened on 1 December 1903.1904 - First European child is born in township.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: Hakiaha Tawhiao, J.E.Ward (Interpreter), J.Carrington. E.W.Simmons, A.J.Langmuir (Chairman), J.E.Slattery.1906, 14 Sep - First issue of the Taumarunui Press.1907 - First hospital erected, 5 beds.1908-09 - North Island Main Trunk opened to through Auckland-Wellington trains from 9 November 1908, with the first NIMT express trains from 14 February 1909.1908–11 William Thomas Jennings elected Member of Parliament for Taumarunui electorate1910 - Borough of Taumarunui proclaimed.1910 - Kaitieke Co-op Dairy Co. formed.1910 - George Henry Thompson defeated Rev John E. Ward (166 to 143 votes) to become the first borough council mayor.1912 - Population: Males: 641; Females: 487 - Note: 1912 census did not include a count of Maori.1912 - Township started getting water supply from Waitea Creek, just south of Piriaka. Project cost £13,000. Pipeline 8 miles long.1913 - William Henry Wackrow - Mayor1913, 22 Jul - First reported cases of Smallpox in district.1911–14 Charles Wilson elected Member of Parliament1914 - Taumarunui gas supply begins1914–18 - World War I
1914–19 - William Thomas Jennings re-elected Member of Parliament1915 - Taumarunui Hospital Board formed, 30 beds.1915 - Only a single car in town.1915-1917 - Mayor: G.S. Steadman.1916 - Census: 3,021 (Taumarunui & Manunui)1917 - Tuku Te Ihu Te Ngarupiki, Chief of Rangatahi, dies in Matapuna near Taumarunui aged 97.1917-1919 - Mayor: A.S. Laird.1919-1923 - Mayor: G.S. Steadman.1923-1925 - Mayor: C.C. Marsack.1924 Piriaka Power Scheme was built to supply electricity to Taumarunui.1925-1929 - Mayor: G.E. Manson.1928 - Four thousand bales of wool shipped down river1929-1944 - Mayor: Cecil Boles.1932 - Stratford - Okahukura Line completed.1939 - Hatricks's steamer ceased running, final section of the journey having been done by coach from Kirikau landing since 1927.1939–1945 - World War II
1941 - Cosmopolitan Club established with Father Conboy as first president.1944-1947 - W.S.N. Campbell.1947-1953 - Mayor: D.H. Hall.1951 - Census: 3,2201952 - Kaitieke County and Ohura County amalgamated with Taumarunui County.1953-1956 - Mayor: David C. Seath - later Member of Parliament for the King Country1956 - Mayor: Frank D. House - later Taumarunui High School governor.1956 - Census: 3,3411961 - Census: 4,9611962 - County builds the Kuratau Power Station1966 - 1 October, 6:00pm - King Country Radio 1520AM with the call sign 1ZU first broadcasts from Taumarunui.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.1971 - Additional generator to the Piriaka Power Scheme1976, Oct 4 - Daniel Houpapa shot by Armed Offenders Squad after he fires at an officer1981 - Census: 6,540, Full-time in labour force: 2,7271986 - Census: 6,468, Full-time in labour force: 2,5141988 - Taumarunui District Council formed.Town Mayors immediately prior to 1988 include: Charles Binzegger, Les Byars and Terry Podmore.
1989, Nov 1 - Taumarunui District Council merged into Ruapehu District Council.1991 - Census: 6,141, Full-time in labour force: 1,9351996 - Census: 5,835, Full-time in labour force: 1,4381997/98 - AFFCO Holdings freezing works closes.2001 - Census: 5,1392005/06 - Taumarunui Milk Co-op closes - 95 years after the original Kaitieke Co-op Dairy Co. was opened.2006 - Census: 5,0522009, Nov - Stratford - Okahukura Line mothballed.2010, Mar 31 - King Country Radio 1512AM & 92.7FM with the call sign 1ZU goes off air.2012, Jun 25 - Taumarunui Station passenger stop dropped from Northern Explorer's schedule.2013 - Census: 4,5002014 - Census: 4,503Under the Köppen, Taumarunui has a Oceanic climate:(Cfb). Due to location, low altitude and Geography surroundings, Taumarunui is more liable to warm to hot summers than other central North Island centres and in winter Taumarunui is cold and frosty. Rainfall yearly is 1,449 mm (57.047244 in). Annual sunshine yearly is 1822 hrs. In June 2002 Taumarunui recorded just 27 hrs of sun this lowest of the whole country beating the old record at Invercargill with 35 hrs in June 1935. The lowest temperature recorded in Taumarunui, -6.8 °C, was in July 2010.
T.J. Meredith - great-grandson of Theodore of Corsica, joined Royal Navy age 14, CSS Louisiana in 1862 American Civil War, under General Cameron New Zealand land wars, Waikato Mounted Rifles World War I, before coming the proprietor of Taumarunui's Meredith House with wife Margaret Lovett.Prof. James L. Beck - Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology.Prof. John C. Butcher - Honorary Research Professor, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Auckland.Ben Fouhy, world champion kayaker.Marc and Todd Hunter from the band Dragon.Ivan Mercep, 2008 recipient of the New Zealand Institute of Architects Gold Medal.Jenny Ludlam - actress.1914 - Wiremu Hakopa Toa Te Awhitu SM (1914–1994) was the first Māori to be ordained a Catholic priest.1935 - Don Selwyn, Actor, Director, Stage and Screen, Ngāti Kuri and Te Aupōuri (1935-2007) 1936 - Carmen Rupe (né Trevor Rupe, 1935–15 December 2011) - Wellington personality (mayoral candidate (1977), drag queen, cafe owner and brothel keeper)1951 - Joe Karam, rugby union player, researcher and investigator for David Bain's legal team.1952 - Ian Ferguson, Olympic canoer1952 - Max Takuira Matthew Mariu SM (1952–2005), Auxiliary Catholic Bishop of Hamilton (1988–2005), first Māori to be ordained a Catholic bishop.1953 - Marc Hunter, lead singer of Dragon1955 - Mahinarangi Tocker, singer.1956 - Len Brown Mayor of Auckland1958 - Jillian Smith, field hockey player.1960s Timothy J. Sinclair, political scientist.1971 - Kyle Chapman, former leader of the New Zealand National Front1973 - Chris McCormack World Champion Ironman Triathlete (2007, 2010).Resident and New Years Honours recipients
1956 - OBE - Pateriki Joseph Hura - For services to the Māori people, especially as a member of the Board of Maori Affairs.1957 - MBE - Mrs Catherine Goodsir - For social welfare services1958 - MBE - Mrs Rumatiki Wright of Raetihi. For services to the Māori people, especially as Senior Lady Māori Welfare Officer1961 - OBE - Pei Te Hurinui Jones - For services to the Māori people.1967 - MBE - James Dempsey J.P. - chairman of the Taumarunui County Council.1970 - BEM - Eric Raymond Clark - For services to the community and interest in the education of the Māori people.1974 - BEM - Arthur Tukiri Anderson - For services to the Returned Services Association and the community1979 - KBE - Hepi Hoani Te Heuheu - For services to the Māori people and community.1995 - CBE - Alexander Phillips QSM - For services to the Māori people.1998 - MNZM - John Stacey Black J.P. - For services to the community.2000 - QSM - Jean Bassett - For Community Service2001 - QSM - Mrs Verna Lenice Warner J.P. - For Community Service2002 - MNZM - Mrs Nansi Whetu Dewes - For services to Māori and the community2002 - QSM - Barry David FISHER, of Taumarunui. Chief Fire Officer, Taumarunui Volunteer Fire Brigade, New Zealand Fire Service - For Services to the community2003 - QSM - Leonard Patrick Harwood - For Public Services2007 - QSM - Mr William Vernon McMinn - For services to music.2009 - MNZM - Ngarau Tarawa - For services to Māori and community education2010 - QSM - Mrs Lorraine Ivy Edwards J.P. - For services to the community.2012 - MNZM - Ian Trevor Corney - For services to agriculture2013 - ONZM - Susan May Morris - For services to local government.
