Maniaiti / Benneydale

Coal was discovered in the area in 1931, and a mine was built at the town's 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 (Cecil Henry Benney) and the mine superintendent (Tom Dale). It was the only town in the King Country that does not have a Māori 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] In 2019 the population was about 170.[3]

Bush United is the towns local rugby union club, the clubhouse was built at Pureora in 1960 and was moved to Benneydale.[4]

Bennydale 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.

In 2018 the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board lodged an application to the New Zealand Geographic Board to change the name to Maniaiti, which means "a small slide, slip"[5] and is the name of a hill behind the township.[3] It was decided that it would have a dual name of Maniaiti / Benneydale.[5] There was substantial local opposition to the name change.[3]

Mangapeehi Marae is located near Benneydale. It is a meeting ground for the Maniapoto hapū of Matakore, Ngutu, Pare, Raukawa, Rereahu and Te Ihingarangi, and features the Rereahu meeting house.[6][7]

Te Miringa te Kakara, a local meeting house, is located one kilometre from Benneydale, between Benneydale and Tiroa[1]

Te Hape Marae and Te Kaha Tuatini meeting house is located east of Benneydale; it is a meeting place for the Rereahu hapū of Ngāti Te Rā and Ngāti Tuwhakahekeao.[6][7]