Te Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large-scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of Hamilton Central, New Zealand. It is built on a flat area that was previously the bed of an ancient river, the forerunner to the present Waikato River.
Stretching in a long, thin north–south axis, Te Rapa is home to many factories including Te Rapa Dairy Factory, one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Te Rapa has freight and locomotive depots on the North Island Main Trunk railway.
History
Te Rapa and neighbouring
Pukete were important sites for the
kauri gum trade of the late 19th/early 20th centuries, being some of the southern-most locations where gum could be found.
(1989). 090860839X, The Bush Press. 090860839X
Demographics
Te Rapa covers
and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km
2.
Te Rapa had a population of 348 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (20.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 45 people (14.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 177 males, 168 females and 3 people of other genders in 168 dwellings.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.2% European (Pākehā); 16.4% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 10.3% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.7%, Māori language by 3.4%, and other languages by 9.5%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 18.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 48.3% Christian, 1.7% Hindu, 2.6% Māori religious beliefs, and 2.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 38.8%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 39 (12.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 162 (50.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 123 (38.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 12 people (3.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 99 (31.1%) people were employed full-time, 30 (9.4%) were part-time, and 3 (0.9%) were unemployed.
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Te Rapa South has a high median age because 147 of the residents are in the Bupa Foxbridge Retirement Village and Care Home.
Shops
Post Offices
There are two Post Shops in Te Rapa, at The Base and at
Video Ezy,
which, until 2018, was one of the last two in Hamilton renting DVDs, Play Station and videos.
The Base
Prior to being handed back to the
Tainui tribe by the government as part of the Raupatu land settlement in 1995, Te Rapa was the site of a Royal New Zealand Air Force base. The base served as a major Air Force stores depot. The Te Rapa Air Force base closed in 1992.
Te Rapa's shopping area includes The Base, a large-scale retail development that opened in 2005
Fonterra Dairy Factory
One of
Fonterra largest
Dairy product is to the east of the former SH1 in northern Te Rapa. It started to dry
Powdered milk in 1967
and was officially opened on 20 April 1968 by New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company,
which became part of Fonterra in 2001. A butter, cream and
cream cheese plant was added in 1997, another cream cheese line in 2013, and another butter line
in about 2019.
It collects up to of milk a day from 1,000 farms.
Up to of Waikato River water are used in the processing.
Te Rapa Racecourse
Located in Te Rapa is Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton's only remaining horse racing course, and the main racecourse for the
Waikato region. It has a symmetrical left-handed (anti-clockwise) track with a
circumference of 1788 metres.
The course originated with Waikato Turf Club in 1873, which met at Whatawhata and Pirongia. In 1887 it became the South Auckland Racing Club at Claudelands, renamed Hamilton Racing Club in 1916 and moving to at Te Rapa in 1924.
Facilities and hospitalities include a members' facility and private suites.[ NZ Racing Retrieved December 2011]
Major races held at the Te Rapa racecourse include:
-
Waikato Cup over 2400m in early December.
-
Waikato Sprint over 1400m in February.
-
New Zealand International Stakes also known as the Herbie Dyke Stakes, a weight-for-age event over 2000m in February.
Waterworld
Waterworld (also known as
Te Rapa Pools) is a Hamilton
city council-owned pool complex in Te Rapa. In addition to the main facilities, the venue also includes a range of other options including a spa, sauna and steam rooms as well as an outdoor
playground. Rides offered at Waterworld include The Python Hydroslide, the Twister Slide and The Screamer Speedslides.
[ Hamilton Pools - Facilities Retrieved December 2011] The complex was officially opened in late 1976, 15 years after
Jaycees suggested a new swimming pool complex in Fairfield Park. The suggestion led to an adopted proposal in 1964 to mark the city's
centennial and in 1973 the decision was made to instead build the complex in Te Rapa.
Transport
Road
Immediately after the invasion of the Waikato, in 1864, there was just a track across the area linking Mangaharakeke (or Manuharakeke) Pā and Kirikiriroa Pā.
By 1870 bridges had been built over the streams.
An 1875 report said the bridges at Waitawhiriwhiri, Mangaharakeke, Beere's Creek and Hall's Creek, between Ngāruawāhia and Hamilton on the Great South Road, had been replaced, or repaired.
Until Mangaharakeke Dr opened in 2012,
much of the 1860s road, now known as Te Rapa Rd, was part of SH1. See also - List of streets in Hamilton.
Railway
Te Rapa railway station opened when the North Island Main Trunk was extended from Ngāruawāhia to Hamilton on 19 December 1877. Te Rapa is at the northern end of the section to Palmerston North, electrified in 1988. Electrification ends just north of the post (distance north of Wellington).
A locomotive depot and marshalling yard incorporated the Racecourse station site. There is also a
concrete sleeper factory at Te Rapa.
Te Rapa Racecourse station
£720 was spent to open Te Rapa Racecourse passenger platform,
near the south-west end of the course,
on 15 October 1924.
[ Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble (2012)] The mileage to the middle of the Racecourse platform was reported as in 1924 (Frankton Jct was from Auckland in 1882, but that station was moved north in 1909).
The first excursions seem to have been advertised for Labour Day, 27 October 1924.
The last advert was in November 1943.
In 1930 the line was double tracked and equipped with automatic signalling.
Associated with that work, footbridge No 62A was built in 1929 (it was removed about 1963) and long landings were formed at rail level on both lines, with access to the back of the racecourse. By January 1935 horse loading banks had been completed. Approval to remove them was given in 1953, after being disused for years.
Final closure was in late 1967.
Aerial photos show that the site of the station,
and an area to the north, was later used for the marshalling yard
and then the locomotive and freight depot.
Freight
On 1 April 2003 a container terminal opened, with overhead lines, for shunting by electric locomotives.
Crawford Street depot
Fonterra Crawford St depot is linked by rail to local dairy factories at
Te Awamutu,
Morrinsville,
Waitoa, Hautapu, Waharoa, Lichfield and Tīrau.
It sends about 33,000 containers of milk powder and cheese a year for export via the Port of Tauranga. An automated cool store was added in 2009
to handle about 235,000 tonnes a year.
Te Rapa Marshalling Yard
Construction of a new marshalling yard near the Racecourse began in December 1967.
The yard replaced Frankton goods yard
and opened on 10 January 1971. It had a hump for shunting,
[ Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand] which used Westinghouse retarders
and 31 sidings.
Education
Te Rapa School is a full primary school catering for years 1-8. It has students.
Te Rapa School has been the local primary school since 1906.
St Peter Chanel Catholic School is a state integrated full primary school catering for years 1-8. It has students.
Both these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of
External links
