Opunake
| Opunake | ||
| Geographical location | ||
|
||
| Coordinates | 39 ° 27 ′ S , 173 ° 51 ′ E | |
| Region ISO | NZ-TKI | |
| Country |
 New Zealand
|
|
| region | Taranaki | |
| District | South Taranaki District | |
| Ward | Egmont Plains Ward | |
| Local foundation | 1867 | |
| Residents | 1 335 (2013) | |
| height | 29 m | |
| Post Code | 4616 | |
| Telephone code | +64 (0) 6 | |
| UN / LOCODE | NZ OP5 | |
| Photography of the place | ||
 Main street ( New Zealand State Highway 45 ) in Opunake |
||
Opunake is a place in the South Taranaki District of the Taranaki regionon the North Island of New Zealand .
geography
The place is located around 47 km south-southwest of New Plymouth and around 28 km west-northwest of Hawera , on the southwestern foothills of Mount Taranaki and thus on the coast of South Taranaki Bight as part of the Tasman Sea . The Waiaua River flows past to the east of Opunake and flows into the Tasman Sea southeast of the village. The New Zealand State Highway 45 runs through the place and connects it with New Plymouth and Hawera .
history
The first evidence of a settlement of the area around Opunake date back to 1842, in which the Maori - chief Wiremu Kingi Matakatea is mentioned by name, whose headquarters the Te Namu Pā inhabited. The first European settlers came from 1865 and two years later the place was founded. Difficult years of coexistence between Pākehā (whites) and Māori followed, as the British colonial government set up a military camp in Opunake , which the Māori initially did not like.
In the late 1870s, Opunake Bay was a popular anchorage for merchant ships, but the conditions for anchoring and loading and unloading ships were not particularly good. In 1877 the government was approached to support the construction of a pier. But it would take until 1892 before the construction was approved and a 90 m long pier could be built. Two years later, two storms destroyed the facility. In 1889 a Harbor Board was established with the aim of building a new pier in the bay, but it was not until 1924 that construction of a new quay and security work to protect the bay could begin. After completion in 1927, shipping could be resumed. After numerous other difficulties and an accident on a steamer near the quay, shipping was finally stopped and the port plans for Opunake finally abandoned. Parts of the old dock can still be seen in the bay today.
In 1881 a post office was opened for the first time in Opunake and in 1901 the first brick house was built. In 1926, a branch to Opunake was built from the railway connection between New Plymouth and Wellington , but it was closed and dismantled in 1976.
population
In the 2013 census, the town had 1,335 inhabitants, 2.2% less than in the 2006 census.
economy
Opunake is the service center for the southwestern part of the coastal area of the Taranaki region . In addition to agriculture with milk production, tourism also plays a not insignificant role due to the beaches and the good surfing conditions on the coast. A holiday park is located on the coast of the village.
In May 2006, work began on building an artificial reef 250 m off the coast in order to further improve the already good conditions for surfing. However, the work was soon abandoned due to a lack of funds as the project failed to deliver on the promises of improved surfing conditions that were once made.
Personalities
- Peter Snell (1938–2019), athlete, was born in Opunake . On May 19, 2007, a memorial was erected to him in the village.
Photo gallery
Everybody's Theater in Opunake
Opunake Hotel
Surf Lodge
Wall painting in Opunake
Monument in honor of Peter Snell
.jpg)
Web links
- About Opunake . Opunake Business Association,accessed January 11, 2016.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Opunake . Statistics New Zealand , accessed September 11, 2017 .
- ↑ Topo250 maps . Land Information New Zealand , accessed September 11, 2017 .
- ^ Opunake - the place of the prow of the canoe . New Plymouth District Council , accessed September 11, 2017 .
- ↑ Ron Lambert : Taranaki places - Cape Egmont - Ōpunake . In: Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry for Culture & Heritage , December 11, 2009, accessed September 11, 2017 .
- ^ Laird Harper : Money for surf reef a wipeout . In: Stuff . Fairfax Media , August 17, 2011, accessed September 11, 2017 .