Taupō

Taupō (Māori pronunciation: [ˈtoʊpɔː]) is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the central North Island of New Zealand. The town is the largest urban area and seat of the Taupo District, and the second-largest urban area in the Waikato region behind Hamilton.

See also: Lake Taupo, Taupo District, Taupō (New Zealand electorate), and HMNZS Taupo

Taupō

Taupō-nui-a-Tia (Māori)
Secondary urban area
Taupō
Coordinates: 38.6875°S 176.0694°E / -38.6875; 176.0694
Country New Zealand
IslandNorth Island
RegionWaikato
Territorial authorityTaupō District
WardTaupō-Kaingaroa
Settledpre-European
Founded1869
Borough status1953
Named fororiginates from Taupō-nui-a-Tia, meaning "great cloak of Tia" in Māori
ElectorateTaupō
Government
 • MayorDavid Trewavas
Area
 • Urban
132.57 km2 (51.19 sq mi)
 • District6,970 km2 (2,690 sq mi)
Elevation
360 m (1,180 ft)
Population
 (June 2020)[1]
 • Urban
25,400
 • Urban density190/km2 (500/sq mi)
 • District
40,100
 • District density5.8/km2 (15/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
3330
Area code(s)07
Local iwiNgāti Tūwharetoa

Taupō has a population of 25,400 (June 2020).[1] In 1953, Taupō was officially constituted as a borough,[2] but from 1989 it has been administered by the Taupo District Council, the district including both Taupō itself and the surrounding hinterland. Despite this, it is occasionally referred to as a city.

The name Taupō, by which the town is commonly known, is the shortened version of its Māori name, Taupō-nui-a-Tia. Literally translated, Taupō-nui-a-Tia means "The great cloak of Tia"; the explorer Tia discovered the lake. New Zealand Gazetteer records in 2019 the change of the official name to add the macron over the last vowel.[3][4] In 2021 the name of the lake remains Lake Taupo officially (without the macron) although Lake Taupō is increasingly introduced into common use.[5][6][7]

Geography

Taupō is located on the northeastern shore of Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. The Waikato River drains the lake and runs through the town, separating the CBD and the northern suburbs. The river flows over the spectacular Huka Falls, a short distance north of the town. Taupō is a centre of volcanic and geothermal activity and hot springs suitable for bathing are located at several places in the vicinity. The volcanic Mount Tauhara lies six kilometres (4 mi) to the east.

Somewhat to the northeast are significant hot springs. These springs contain extremophile micro-organisms that live in extremely hot environments.

The small but growing satellite town of Kinloch, where there is a golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, is 20 kilometres west along the lake.

View of snow-capped mountains shrouded in cloud, Taupō

Neighbourhoods
Inner suburbs

Taupō neighbourhoods include:

  • Wharewaka – has a popular swimming spot for locals and a growing new subdivision along with a large retirement village.
  • Nukuhau – lies north of the Waikato River. To the south-west lies Acacia Bay and to the south lies Taupo town centre.
  • Richmond Heights – lies to the east of Rainbow Point and south of Mountain View. It is home to the Richmond Heights shopping center.
  • Waipahihi – lies to the north of Richmond Heights. It is home to the Waipahihi Primary School, and the Waipahihi Botanical Gardens.
  • Mount View
  • Acacia Bay
  • Rainbow Point – lies north of Wharewaka and west of Richmond Heights. To the west lies Lake Taupo.
  • Tauhara – lies just north of Hilltop and east of Mount View. Mount Tauhara lies just east of Tauhara. Tauhara is the location of Tauhara primary school, Tauhara College and Tauhara Golf course.
  • Hilltop – lies south of Tauhara. Hilltop is the location of Hilltop School, Taupo Intermediate School, the Taupo Hospital, the Taharepa shopping centre and the Hilltop shopping centre.
  • Taupo CBD
  • Five Mile Bay – is located on the east side of Lake Taupo, south of Wharewaka and north of Waitahanui on State Highway 1 just west of the Taupo Airport. It is a popular swimming/water skiing beach which gets very busy in summer. Five Mile Bay is one of three similar named bays along the lake shoreline, the others being Two Mile Bay and Three Mile Bay.
Outer suburbs

Climate

The climate of Taupō is cold and windy when compared to other parts of the North Island and has an oceanic climate (Cfb). This is due to the town being located inland, which results in the accumulation of dry air causing severe frost during winter. However snowfall in Taupō is rare. The summer climate in Taupō is mild with maximum average temperature reaching 23 degrees and a minimum average temperature of 10 degrees.

Climate data for Taupo
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 22.7
(72.9)		 22.6
(72.7)		 20.4
(68.7)		 17.2
(63.0)		 14.1
(57.4)		 11.7
(53.1)		 11.0
(51.8)		 11.9
(53.4)		 13.9
(57.0)		 15.8
(60.4)		 18.3
(64.9)		 20.7
(69.3)		 16.9
(62.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 17.1
(62.8)		 14.9
(58.8)		 12.0
(53.6)		 9.4
(48.9)		 7.4
(45.3)		 6.5
(43.7)		 7.2
(45.0)		 9.2
(48.6)		 11.1
(52.0)		 13.1
(55.6)		 15.6
(60.1)		 11.7
(53.1)
Average low °C (°F) 11.4
(52.5)		 11.6
(52.9)		 9.5
(49.1)		 6.8
(44.2)		 4.8
(40.6)		 3.0
(37.4)		 2.1
(35.8)		 2.7
(36.9)		 4.5
(40.1)		 6.4
(43.5)		 7.9
(46.2)		 10.5
(50.9)		 6.7
(44.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 77.3
(3.04)		 67.9
(2.67)		 66.5
(2.62)		 68.4
(2.69)		 74.9
(2.95)		 92.8
(3.65)		 96.0
(3.78)		 87.4
(3.44)		 81.6
(3.21)		 86.2
(3.39)		 67.9
(2.67)		 93.6
(3.69)		 960.3
(37.81)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) 7.7 6.7 7.3 7.4 8.7 10.9 10.9 11.4 10.7 10.6 8.2 9.2 109.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 224.3 202.6 179.7 156.3 126.3 96.1 116.5 134.6 140.0 179.6 190.4 204.6 1,950.9
Source: NIWA Climate Data[8]

Demographics

As of June 2020, Taupō had a estimated population of 25,400. It is the 25th largest urban area in New Zealand, and the second-largest in the Waikato Region (behind Hamilton).[1]

The Taupō urban area had a population of 23,622 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,499 people (11.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 2,925 people (14.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 11,523 males and 12,099 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. Of the total population, 4,740 people (20.0%) were aged up to 15 years, 3,836 (16.2%) were 15 to 29, 10,167 (43.0%) were 30 to 64, and 4,872 (20.6%) were 65 or older.[9]

Ethnicities were 79.8% European/Pākehā, 24.5% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 5.7% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).[9]

Individual statistical areas in Taupō (2018 census)[10]
SA2 name Population Dwellings Median age Median income
Acacia Bay 1,653 987 50.8 years $39,600
Bird Area 2,235 1,155 43.3 years $34,900
Brentwood 1,893 891 48.2 years $31,600
Hilltop 2,721 1,236 42.2 years $29,600
Mountview 2,601 1,116 34.8 years $28,900
Nukuhau-Rangatira Park 2,442 1,206 44.6 years $31,700
Richmond Heights 2,328 1,143 37.2 years $32,500
Tauhara 1,803 681 30.4 years $26,400
Taupō Central East 2,439 1,083 35.8 years $25,400
Taupō Central West 405 222 32.1 years $31,100
Waipahihi 2,172 1,125 46.4 years $36,300
Wharewaka 939 726 57.5 years $30,200

Economy

Taupō is a tourist centre, particularly in the summer, as it offers panoramic views over the lake and to the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park to the south. It offers a number of tourist activities including sky diving, jet boating, paragliding, and bungy jumping.

Taupō services a number of surrounding plantation pine forests including the large Kaingaroa Forest and related industry. A large sawmill is sited approximated 3 km to the north east of the town on Centennial Drive.

Taupō is surrounded by seven geothermal power stations including the historic Wairakei geothermal power station a few kilometres north of the town.

Sporting events

Some regular sporting events in Taupō include Ironman New Zealand, the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge and the Great Lake Relay (established in 1995).[11][12] The Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge has about 5,000 riders.[13] The Oxfam Trailwalker has been held in Taupō several times.[14][15] In 2006 Taupō was also the location of the off-road motorcycle event FIM International Six Day Enduro.

The International Mountain Bicycling Association has designated the mountain biking trails at Bike Taupō as a silver-level IMBA Ride Center.[16] Ride Centers are the IMBA's strongest endorsement of a trail experience.[17]

One of the main streets of the Taupo CBD, with the Taupo Domain on the left.

Education

Taupō has four high schools: Tauhara College, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, Māori immersion Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa i Te Reo ki Tuwharetoa and state integrated Lake Taupo Christian School. It also has Wairakei, St Patrick's, Waipahihi, Hilltop, Mount View, Taupō and Tauhara primary schools, and Taupo Intermediate School.

Transport

Taupō is served by State Highway 1 and State Highway 5, and the Thermal Explorer Highway touring route. All three highways run concurrently along the Eastern Taupo Arterial, which was built in 2010.[18]

Taupō is one of the few large towns in New Zealand that have never had a link to the national rail network, although there have been proposals in the past.

Taupo Airport is located south of the township. Scheduled services to Auckland and Wellington operate from the airport.[19]

Notable people
  • Patrick Bevin (born 1991), road racing cyclist
  • Bevan Docherty (born 29 March 1977), Olympic triathlete
  • Louisa Hareruia Wall (born 17 February 1972), member of parliament and former national representative netball and rugby union player

Twin cities

Taupō is twinned with:

See also

References
  1. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. "Taupo". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  3. "NZGB Gazetteer | linz.govt.nz". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. "Over 800 Māori place names made official". TVNZ. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. "NZGB Gazetteer | linz.govt.nz". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  6. "Third person drowns in 24 hours after Lake Taupō death". TVNZ. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. "Taupo, Huka Falls & Turangi, newzealand.com". www.newzealand.com. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. "Climate Data". NIWA. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  9. "Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)". nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  10. "2018 Census place summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  11. "IMNewZealand". Ironman. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  12. "Taupo Great Lake Relay – Event Promotions". Event Promotions. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  13. "Welcome - Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge". Cycle Challenge. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  14. "Oxfam Trailwalker in New Zealand Search". Eventfinda. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  15. "Past Events". Oxfam Trailwalker. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  16. "Introducing the 2012 Model Trail Awards Winners; International Mountain Bicycling Association". Imba.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  17. "Pocahontas State Park to Develop Regional Biking Center – Richmond Times-Dispatch: Outdoor Recreation In Richmond And Central Virginia". Richmond.com. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  18. "Taupo reflects on bypass road success | NZNews | Newshub". 3news.co.nz. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  19. "Sounds Air Flying Wellington to Taupo". Great Lake Taupō. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.