Te Aroha


Te Aroha is a rural town in the Waikato region of New Zealand with a population of 3,906 people in the 2013 census, an increase of 138 people since 2006. It is northeast of Hamilton and south of Thames. It sits at the foot of Mount Te Aroha, the highest point in the Kaimai Range.

History

The name Te Aroha derives from the Māori name of Mount Te Aroha. In one version, Rāhiri, the eponymous ancestor of Ngāti Rāhiri Tumutumu, climbed the mountain and saw his homeland in the distance and felt a sense of love for it. The town is properly named Te Aroha-a-uta; uta meaning 'inland', so the town is named "love flowing inland".
The European settlement was established in the late 1870s. The population grew quickly during the 1880s as a result of a gold rush. A spa was founded in 1883 but popularity had declined by the 1930s.
Te Aroha Borough Council took over from the 1880 Town Board on 2 May 1898. Herriesville became part of Te Aroha Borough Council. The 1938 Council Chambers is now a Category 2 listed building. Matamata-Piako District Council took over under the 1989 local government reforms.
Created in 1888, Te Aroha and Lemon was New Zealand's first local fizzy drink. It was produced up until the 1960s.
On 17 February 1985 Te Aroha experienced a severe flash flood that washed boulders, mud, and trees through the town. Most shops and more than 50 homes were damaged, resulting in the death of three people.

Bridges

Bridge, over the Waihou River, on Kenrick St was rebuilt in 1910 and the present bridge was built alongside it in 1928. The railway bridge was rebuilt in 1912, replacing the 1895 swing bridge. It is now a footbridge, but will not be replaced.

Railway stations

The Thames Branch reached Te Aroha in 1895 and the station opened on 1 March 1886. The station was described in 1902 as, "of wood, and include a ladies' waiting room, a public waiting room, a vestibule, stationmaster's office, ticket office, and parcels office. There is a long asphalted platform."
The area west of the Waihou was named Herriesville from 1914, when a private railway siding was opened on 24 January 1914 to serve the A&P ground. William Herries had been a local landowner. Seven railway cottages were built in 1924. Both stations closed to passengers on 11 September 1967 and to freight on 11 July 1986, though Herriesville was only open for racecourse traffic.

Geography

The Waihou River runs through Te Aroha. Close by to the east is the base of the Kaimai Range, and the town is overlooked by the 952-metre Mount Te Aroha. To the north of the town is the low-lying, swampy land of the Hauraki Plains.
Thermal and mineral springs are both found close to the centre of the town, as is the world's only hot soda water geyser.

Economy

Te Aroha is at the centre of a dairy farming community and much of its economic activity is in serving that community. Tourism is increasing in Te Aroha. The mineral baths are a very popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
Historically mining played a role in the area, and has left some legacies – not all of them positive, such as toxic residues leaking from the abandoned Tui mine tailings dam. Miners' cottages are in evidence.

Attractions

Te Aroha is the location of the Mokena Hou Geyser, the only natural soda water geyser in the world. The geyser is located in the Te Aroha Domain, the oldest intact Edwardian domain in New Zealand.
The Hauraki Rail Trail has recently been opened, connecting the town to Paeroa and beyond.

Events

Te Aroha College is the town's co-educational state secondary school, with a roll of as of.
There are two co-educational state primary schools in the town: Te Aroha Primary School, with a roll of ; and Stanley Avenue School, with a roll of.
Elstow-Waihou Combined School, another co-educational state primary school, is located north-west of the town; with a roll of.
St Joseph's Catholic School is a co-educational state integrated Catholic school, with a roll of.

Notable people