Mangaweka


Mangaweka is a township on the State Highway One, Manawatū-Whanganui region, in the North Island of New Zealand, with a population of just under 200. It is between Taihape to the north and Hunterville to the south. The Rangitikei River runs adjacent to the township, which is popular for rafting, kayaking, fishing and swimming.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "weka stream" for Mangaweka.
The township is interesting not only for the visually interesting historic main street, but also because of its growing artists' community. The main street is preserved in its original state due to SH1 being re-located in the early 1980s. This tore the heart out of the township as the main street became redundant, but this is what makes the township such a tourist attraction today, with many people stopping to take photographs and visit the flourishing art galleries.
The main feature in Mangaweka is an elevated DC-3 aircraft. It was originally set above SH1 as a cafe, but this is currently closed and is awaiting redevelopment. The Department of Conservation have several scenic reserve walks around Mangaweka including one on the former North Island Main Trunk railway line and tunnels, replaced by a deviation in 1981.
Famous people who have lived in Mangaweka include the New Zealand poet Sam Hunt, the artist Robin White and photographer/artist Richard Aslett. The town also hosts the controversial annual "Fakes & Forgeries Art Exhibition and Festival" in October and November, which in 2007 featured Mangaweka's most famous son, Carl Feodor Goldie.
Other major features close to the town include some of the country's biggest railway viaducts on the Mangaweka deviation, and the Rangitikei River canyon which provides the setting for the southern hemisphere's highest flying fox, 80m bungy jump and Lord of the Rings location, and Mangaweka Assembly of God.

Education

Mangaweka School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of.