Murupara

Murupara
Minor urban area
Murupara

Murupara's location within the North Island

Coordinates: 38°28′S 176°42′E / 38.467°S 176.700°E / -38.467; 176.700Coordinates: 38°28′S 176°42′E / 38.467°S 176.700°E / -38.467; 176.700
Country New Zealand
Region Bay of Plenty
Territorial authority Whakatane District
Population (June 2016)[1]
  Total 1,770
Postcode(s) 3025

Murupara is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty region between the Kaingaroa Forest and Te Urewera National Park, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, along SH38.[2] Murupara is the terminus of the Murupara Branch railway. Its principal industries are all related to forestry. The name Murupara means "to wipe off mud".

Many years ago, Murupara was a staging post on the road between Rotorua and Napier. In the early 1900s, the planting of exotic trees began on the surrounding scrubland. This area is now known as the Kaingaroa Forest, with 1,400 square kilometres of planted pines. As the main service centre for the many forestry workers and their families, Murupara grew to a population of over 3000. Recent changes to the forestry contracting system have brought about a decrease in the number of permanent residents.

The settlements of Galatea, Horomanga, Kopuriki, Aniwhenua, Waiohau and Murupara lie between the boundary of the Kaingaroa Forest, the popular Te Urewera and Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. Earlier history is also evident around Murupara. In a rock shelter approximately eight kilometres west of the town centre are a number of ancient cave drawings.

Murupara was regarded as being a "Gang Town" but a rāhui (ban) on gang patches was instigated by the local iwi from being worn on local marae and at the local school.[3][4]

Notable people

References


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.