Ongaonga (town)

Ongaonga
Photograph of Bridge Street
Bridge Street in 2016
Ongaonga
Coordinates: 39°54′50″S 176°25′12″E / 39.914°S 176.420°E / -39.914; 176.420
Country New Zealand
Region Hawke's Bay
Territorial authority Central Hawke's Bay District

Ongaonga is a small town located in Central Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipawa and a similar distance from Waipukurau. The village is named after the native stinging nettle Urtica ferox or Ongaonga.

The includes the Ongaonga Primary School and the Ongaonga Play Center adjoined to the town hall.[1] Businesses include the General store and tea rooms, the Sandford Arms Tavern and the Ongaonga Golf Course which is located one kilometre south-west of the town.

The village was founded in 1872 when Henry Hamilton Bridge subdivided his farm. The first house was built two years later, in 1874.[2] The general store and tearooms was opened in 1899 and still provides the local community and visitors with groceries, refreshments, postal services and petrol.[3]

Ongaonga also has a collection of historic buildings all built at a similar time by the Coles Brothers Builders and Joiners. The main street, Bridge Street, named after town founder Henry Hamilton Bridge, includes the historic Coles Brothers factory.[3].

The small country town also supports several sporting and cultural clubs. Ongaonga often joins with Tikokino in rugby, to compete against other Central Hawke's Bay clubs. Over the last 50 years, youth organisations have come and gone. The town has hosted Scouts New Zealand and GirlGuides. Ongaonga also hosts an annual ANZAC day parade.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "OngaOnga School | Central Hawkes Bay | New Zealand". Ongaonga.school.nz. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  2. ↑ Rangeview Memories of Ongaonga by Malcolm Ross, 2012 (book)
  3. 1 2 3 "Ongaonga general store, 2009 – Hawke's Bay places – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand". Teara.govt.nz. 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2013-10-28.

Coordinates: 39°54′50″S 176°25′12″E / 39.914°S 176.420°E / -39.914; 176.420


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