Tākaka

The name of the town may derive from Taha'a island in the Society Islands in French Polynesia. A local myth about a taniwha in the nearby Parapara River is similar to one told about the Parapara strait, which separates Taha'a from Motue'a island.[3]

From 1853 to 1876, Tākaka was administered as part of the Nelson Province. Sawmilling was an important business for Takaka in the 1870s. The Takaka tramway was built in 1880. Prior to that time timber was transported to the port by teams of bullocks which would often leave the main street of Takaka looking like a rutted bog.[4] After flooding in 1904 did significant damage to the tramway, it was sold in 1905 and the locomotive, rolling stock and rails were shipped to Onehunga by sea.[5][6]

Takaka contributed soldiers to the Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War with 1, 44 and 25 respectively dying in each conflict.[7]

In June 2005, much of the town was temporarily evacuated after fire swept through Tākaka's biggest industrial complex, a dairy factory. There were fears that volatile chemicals stored at the plant might explode, leading to the release of poisonous gases, which later proved to be unfounded.

In July 2020, the name of the town was officially gazetted as Tākaka by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[8]

The area around Tākaka Hill has a cave system, including New Zealand's deepest vertical shaft, Harwoods Hole.

Tākaka and Golden Bay are known for rock climbing, particularly around the area of Paines Ford.[9]

The town is also known for Te Waikoropupū Springs (colloquially known as Pupu Springs).[10]

The antipode of Tākaka is the town of Coriscada, Portugal.

Takaka is one of the warmest locations in the South Island, due to its northerly position and maritime influences from the Golden Bay. Because of the hills in the Kahurangi National Park to the south-west of Takaka, the town receives substantially less rainfall than the West Coast. Takaka's location on the leeward side of these hills allow the wind to become warmer and drier as it flows down towards the town, allowing an average of 22 days a year to exceed 26.7 °C (80 °F). On the contrary, being a few kilometres inland, cold air can settle over Takaka on winter mornings, resulting in an average of 17.2 frosty days per year.

Farming, sawmilling, limestone quarrying and tourism are major local industries. The area around Tākaka is mineral-rich, with gold, iron ore, copper, silver and asbestos all found locally, although not all in commercially viable amounts.

Dairy factory

The Takaka Fonterra Dairy Factory (2021)

There is also a small Fonterra factory located in the township of Tākaka that produces skim milk powder.[13] There are 83 dairy farms supplying the factory, which can process about 525,000 litres (139,000 US gal) a day into skim milk powder. Cream is produced as a by-product, and is shipped to the Clandeboye factory for further processing.[14] The $80 million Takaka dairy factory was damaged by a fire in 2005. More than 60 firefighters battled the fire, which was caused by contractors completing welding work.[15] It has subsequently been rebuilt.[16] In 2009, it was reported that it employed nearly 50 staff and contributed $3 million in wages to the local economy.[17]

Tākaka covers 12.34 km² (4.76 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,390 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 113 people per km².

Tākaka had a population of 1,335 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 99 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 183 people (15.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 552 households, comprising 657 males and 678 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 47.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 222 people (16.6%) aged under 15 years, 189 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 621 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.8% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 1.1% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 64.5% had no religion, 24.9% were Christian, 0.2% were Hindu, 1.1% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 177 (15.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 243 (21.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 90 people (8.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 483 (43.4%) people were employed full-time, 219 (19.7%) were part-time, and 27 (2.4%) were unemployed.[18]

Golden Bay High School (2021)

Golden Bay High School is a co-educational state intermediate and high school for Year 7 to 13 students,[19][20] with a roll of 297 as of April 2023.[21]

There are two primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Tākaka Primary School,[22][23] with a roll of 138,[24] and Central Takaka School[25] with a roll of 42.[26]

There is also a primary school in nearby Motupipi.[27]

The Takaka golf course had a number of homes on local farms before shifting to Crown land at Clifton that was able to be rented for a token amount in perpetuity in 1959.[45]