Benneydale

Bennydale
Country:New Zealand
Population:200 (2014)
Rural Area
Extent:
Territorial Authority
Name:Waitomo District Council
Website:http://www.waitomo.govt.nz/
Mayor:Brian Hanna
Extent:
Land Area:3,546.76 km2 (1,369 sq mi)
Regional Council
Name:Environment Waikato
Website:http://www.ew.govt.nz/

Coordinates: 38°31′14.06″S 175°21′45.71″E / 38.5205722°S 175.3626972°E / -38.5205722; 175.3626972

Benneydale is a small town in the Waitomo District. It is situated on State Highway 30 approximately 35 km southeast of Te Kuiti.[1]

After coal was discovered in 1931 a mine was built at the towns present location. In 1940 the government bought the mine and created the township of Benneydale. Its name is a portmanteau of the undersecretary of mines at the time (Mr Benney) and the mine superintendent (Mr Dale). It is the only town in the King Country which does not have a Maori name.[1]

At its peak the town had a population of 2000 with a butchery, bakery and picture theatre.[1][2] There were jobs in the coal mine until the early 1990s, but like many other rural areas in New Zealand the town has slowly declined.[2]

It now mainly operates as a farm service town and it is the closest town to the Timber Trail in the Pureora Forest Park. The town has a police station, volunteer fire brigade, a garage, a corner store that sells hot food and basic groceries, a cafe with accommodation, and a primary school. There is also a meat works on the outskirts of town.

Te Miringa te Kakara is the local marae and is located one kilometre outside of town.[1]

Bush United is the towns local rugby union club, the clubhouse was built at Pureora in 1960 and was moved to Benneydale.[3]

Sports broadcaster Keith Quinn was raised in Benneydale.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kia Ora: Benneydale". New Zealand Herald. 11 July 2014. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Rural exodus: Goodbye country ... small town NZ in decline as rush to cities grows". New Zealand Herald. 6 December 2012. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Editors Carolyn M. King, D. John Gaukrodger, Neville A. Ritchie. The Drama of Conservation: The History of Pureora Forest, New Zealand, p. 178. Springer Verlag, Berlin, and Department of Conservation, Hamilton. ISBN 978-0-478-15044-5.
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