Manaia, Taranaki

Manaia is a rural town in South Taranaki District, New Zealand. Opunake is 29 km to the northwest, and Hāwera is 13 km to the southeast. Kaponga is 15 km north. State Highway 45 passes through the town.[1][2] Manaia is named after the former Māori chief of the district, Hukunui Manaia.

Manaia
Manaia post office, 2010
Manaia
Coordinates: 39°33′3″S 174°7′30″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
DistrictSouth Taranaki District
Population
 (2013)
 • Total960

The population was 960 in the 2013 Census, an increase of 36 from 2006.[3]

History and culture

European settlement

Manaia's history is still visible in the Manaia Redoubt. Built around 1880 on the site of a former pā (Te Takahe) during peacetime, this redoubt and wooden watchtower was created for the passive resistance of the Parihaka chief, Te Whiti o Rongomai, and his followers.

The wooden watchtower (35 feet high) was blown down in a storm and replaced in 1912 by a concrete one still standing today amidst the 18-hole golf course surrounded by two original blockhouses. Trenches surround the tower and blockhouses. The complex could house 160 men and all the timber used for the construction was pit sawn locally by the constables. The golf course is one of the oldest in Taranaki, established around 1905.

When driving into Manaia from Hāwera the remains of the old flour mill can be seen on the left hand side. These concrete remains of the mill were built in 1900 to replace the original wooden mill built in 1882 by Mr D. F. McVicar of the Sentry Hill flour mill, New Plymouth. The local Waiokura River powered the mill by a 15-foot (4.6 m) water wheel which developed 15 horsepower (11 kW). The mill had 4 stories, and a 23-foot (7.0 m) stud. It was 35 feet (11 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. About 40,000 feet (12,000 m) of timber was used and the building provided storage for about 15,000 sacks of flour.[4] employs around 250 people, and has been the main business in Manaia since 1923.[5] The company manufactures fresh and frozen breads and bakery products. Its clients include Foodstuffs, Subway, and Pams.[6] The company went into receivership in 2011.[7]

Modern history
The statue of George in Manaia

In 2007, a 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier called George (dog) died protecting 5 local children from an attack by two pit bulls . He was given a posthumous PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross, at a special ceremony in Manaia in February 2009. The town has also erected a statue in his honour.[8]

Marae

Manaia has three marae affiliated with the local Ngāruahine hapū of Ngāti Haua: Tawhitinui Marae and Okare Tuatoru meeting house, Waiokura Marae and Paraukau Tukau meeting house, and Okare ki Uta|Okare ki Uta Marae.[9][10]

Education

Manaia School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 160.[11] The school was founded in 1882.[12] In 2005, Tokaora School closed and merged with Manaia School.[13]

Notes
  1. Peter Dowling (editor) (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, map 34, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, map 96, ISBN 1-877333-20-4
  3. 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Manaia
  4. "About Yarrows". Yarrows Family Bakers. 2011.
  5. McCloy, Nicola (2008). Made in New Zealand: Stories of iconic Kiwi brands. Auckland: Random House. pp. 36–37. ISBN 978-1-86979-018-9.
  6. "Partners & Customers". Yarrows Family Bakers. 2011. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
  7. "Yarrow bakery placed in receivership". The New Zealand Herald. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  8. "Another award for heroic Jack Russell". Fairfax New Zealand. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-02-14.
  9. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  10. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  11. "Te Kete Ipurangi - Manaia School". Ministry of Education.
  12. "Manaia School". Hawera & Normanby Star. 26 June 1882. p. 2.
  13. "Mergers, Closures and New Schools, January 2005 - December 2005" (XLS). Education Counts.

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