Ongaonga (town)

Ongaonga is a village in Central Hawkes Bay District of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipawa and a similar distance from Waipukurau.[1]

Ongaonga
Bridge Street in 2016
Ongaonga
Coordinates: 39.914°S 176.420°E / -39.914; 176.420
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay
Territorial authorityCentral Hawke's Bay District
Population
 • Total37

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]

The village is named after the Māori word for the native stinging nettle Urtica ferox.[4]

The modern village consists of a general store, tea rooms and the Sandford Arms Tavern. Ongaonga 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. Ongaonga also hosts an annual ANZAC day parade. The Ongaonga Golf Course is located one kilometre south-west of the town.[3]

Education

Ongaonga School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school.[5][6] It is a decile 6 school with a roll of 80 as of March 2020.[7][8]

Ongaonga Play Center and Ongaonga Town Hall are located next to the school.[5]

Over the last 50 years, youth organisations have come and gone. The town has hosted Scouts New Zealand and Girl Guides.[3]

References
  1. Hariss, Gavin. "Ongaonga, Hawke's Bay". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. Rangeview Memories of Ongaonga by Malcolm Ross, 2012 (book)
  3. Pollock, Kerryn (15 November 2012). "Ongaonga general store, 2009". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  4. Wassilieff, Maggy. "Stinging hairs of ongaonga". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  5. "Official School Website". ongaonga.school.nz.
  6. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  7. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.


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