Takapau is a small rural community in the Central Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipukurau, off State Highway 2, and has a population of more than 500.[3]
The original township was founded in 1876 by farmer Sydney Johnston from Oruawharo station. Johnston's family donated land for a school and churches, and built the local library, public hall and, later, Plunket rooms. Many streets are named after members of the family.[3]
Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry, and the community takes its name from the flax that grew in the expansive Takapau plains. The Māori word translates literally as "mat" or "carpet".[3]
The largest business in Takapau is now the Silverfern Farms meat-processing plant, founded by the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Meat Company in 1981. Kintail Honey, one of country's largest honey-packing and beekeeping operations, is also based in the town.[3]
Statistics New Zealand describes Takapau as a rural settlement, which covers 3.18 km2 (1.23 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 700 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 220 people per km2. It is part of the larger Makaretu statistical area.[4]
Takapau had a population of 597 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 72 people (13.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 81 people (15.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 216 households, comprising 309 males and 288 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female, with 126 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 102 (17.1%) aged 15 to 29, 261 (43.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 71.9% European/Pākehā, 41.7% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 3.0% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.8% had no religion, 29.1% were Christian, 4.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 1.5% were Buddhist and 2.5% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (7.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 150 (31.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 24 people (5.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 234 (49.7%) people were employed full-time, 51 (10.8%) were part-time, and 18 (3.8%) were unemployed.[5]
Takapau School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school,[8][9] with a roll of 135 as of August 2024.[10][11] The school opened in 1879.[12]
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Takapau is a Year 1–8 is a co-educational state Kura Kaupapa Māori school,[13] with a roll of 29 as of August 2024.[10][14] The school opened in 1994.[15]
Takapau had a railway station from 12 March 1877 to 27 September 1981.[17] It was the terminus of the line from Spit for 10 months, until 25 January 1878, when the extension to Kopua opened.[18] Takapau at that time was on the northern edge of the Seventy Mile Bush.[19]
Edmund Allan and Samuel[20] Kingstreet[21] had a £14,100 contract to build the 14 mi (23 km) extension of the Napier to Waipukurau railway south to Takapau.[22] They built a 5th class station in 1875 and Donald McLeod, a Waipukurau carpenter,[23] built a goods shed and platform in 1877. Initially, only one train a day ran from Takapau.[24] In 1890 there were two trains a day.[25] There was a post office at the station from 1887 to 1911. By 1896 there were 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) and 40 ft (12 m) x 30 ft (9.1 m) goods sheds and also a cart approach, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 24 wagons, extended to 55 in 1911 and further extended in 1940. In 1905 a verandah was added and the platform extended. Electric lights were installed in 1921. Railway houses were built in 1928 and 1946.[17]
On 27 September 1981[17] the old station closed and a new station[16] and loop line opened near Oruawharo, 3.78 km (2.35 mi)[26] to the east.[27] The loop is still in use, with sidings linking to the Silver Fern Farms works and a platform and shelter remain,[28] which appear weed-grown in a 2015 photo.[29] There has been no regular passenger train since at least 1995.[30] There is now only a single line passing through the original Takapau station site.[31]
There was also a passing loop at Whenuahou, 4 mi 42 ch (7.3 km) south of Takapau, which was originally used for construction of the viaduct to the south.[16]
