:Stratford, New Zealand

Stratford has a temperate Oceanic climate (Köppen Climate Classification: Cfb){{Cite web |url=https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/new-zealand/taranaki/stratford-31451/ |title=Stratford climate: Temperature & weather by month |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Climate data}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Stratford (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960–present)

| Jan record high C = 29.5

| Feb record high C = 28.1

| Mar record high C = 26.6

| Apr record high C = 24.0

| May record high C = 20.7

| Jun record high C = 18.5

| Jul record high C = 18.3

| Aug record high C = 17.9

| Sep record high C = 20.6

| Oct record high C = 22.6

| Nov record high C = 24.8

| Dec record high C = 27.8

| year record high C = 29.5

| Jan avg record high C = 25.8

| Feb avg record high C = 25.4

| Mar avg record high C = 23.7

| Apr avg record high C = 21.2

| May avg record high C = 18.6

| Jun avg record high C = 15.8

| Jul avg record high C = 15.2

| Aug avg record high C = 16.2

| Sep avg record high C = 17.7

| Oct avg record high C = 19.8

| Nov avg record high C = 22.1

| Dec avg record high C = 23.7

| year avg record high C = 26.9

|Jan high C = 20.9

|Feb high C = 21.5

|Mar high C = 19.8

|Apr high C = 17.3

|May high C = 14.8

|Jun high C = 12.3

|Jul high C = 11.7

|Aug high C = 12.6

|Sep high C = 13.8

|Oct high C = 15.3

|Nov high C = 17.1

|Dec high C = 19.2

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 16.2

|Feb mean C = 16.6

|Mar mean C = 15.1

|Apr mean C = 12.9

|May mean C = 10.8

|Jun mean C = 8.7

|Jul mean C = 7.9

|Aug mean C = 8.6

|Sep mean C = 9.8

|Oct mean C = 11.1

|Nov mean C = 12.5

|Dec mean C = 14.8

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 11.5

|Feb low C = 11.7

|Mar low C = 10.3

|Apr low C = 8.5

|May low C = 6.9

|Jun low C = 5.1

|Jul low C = 4.1

|Aug low C = 4.7

|Sep low C = 5.8

|Oct low C = 7.0

|Nov low C = 8.0

|Dec low C = 10.4

| year low C =

| Jan avg record low C = 6.4

| Feb avg record low C = 6.8

| Mar avg record low C = 4.8

| Apr avg record low C = 2.6

| May avg record low C = 0.7

| Jun avg record low C = -0.6

| Jul avg record low C = -1.1

| Aug avg record low C = -0.7

| Sep avg record low C = 0.6

| Oct avg record low C = 1.3

| Nov avg record low C = 2.6

| Dec avg record low C = 5.4

| year avg record low C = -2.3

|Jan record low C = 2.7

|Feb record low C = 2.2

|Mar record low C = 0.8

|Apr record low C = -0.3

|May record low C = -2.3

|Jun record low C = -5.5

|Jul record low C = -7.5

|Aug record low C = -4.6

|Sep record low C = -2.7

|Oct record low C = -1.9

|Nov record low C = -0.6

|Dec record low C = -0.3

|year record low C = -7.5

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 108.9

|Feb rain mm = 121.5

|Mar rain mm = 123.2

|Apr rain mm = 157.8

|May rain mm = 198.7

|Jun rain mm = 193.6

|Jul rain mm = 199.9

|Aug rain mm = 200.4

|Sep rain mm = 190.5

|Oct rain mm = 202.8

|Nov rain mm = 141.9

|Dec rain mm = 154.2

|year rain mm =

|Jan sun = 233.2

|Feb sun = 199.6

|Mar sun = 196.2

|Apr sun = 153.2

|May sun = 128.4

|Jun sun = 102.4

|Jul sun = 120.2

|Aug sun = 141.4

|Sep sun = 141.9

|Oct sun = 170.4

|Nov sun = 198.1

|Dec sun = 196.0

|year sun =

|source 1 = NIWA

{{cite web

|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz

|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Stratford Ews

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web

|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 3532, 23872)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 20 Jul 2024}}

}}

Stratford is at the junction of State Highway 3 and State Highway 43.

On State Highway 3 New Plymouth is {{cvt|39|km}} north, Inglewood {{cvt|21|km}} north, Eltham {{cvt|11|km}} south and Hāwera {{cvt|30|km}} south.

On State Highway 43 Taumarunui is {{cvt|146|km}} to the east. This road is known as "The Forgotten World Highway", due to the scarcity of settlement along the road in contrast to its earlier history. A sign reads "No Petrol for {{cvt|150|km}}".

Stratford railway station is the junction of the Marton–New Plymouth and Stratford–Okahukura lines.

Stratford is a rural service centre, serving the agricultural economy of its wider hinterland.

The population of the district peaked in 1961 at 11,300, and until the end of the century the town fluctuated between 5229 (2001) and 5664 (1996). The 21st century has seen significant economic growth and some associated population growth in the town.

Stratford covers {{Convert|8.90|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=29 April 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Stratford|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Stratford|y}}|R}}/8.90|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|5,337|2013|5,469|2018|5,784|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=}}

Before the 2023 census, the town had a smaller boundary, covering {{Convert|8.54|km2||abbr=on}}. Using that boundary, Stratford had a population of 5,784 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 315 people (5.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 447 people (8.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,322 households, comprising 2,811 males and 2,979 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.94 males per female, with 1,206 people (20.9%) aged under 15 years, 981 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 2,361 (40.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,230 (21.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.1% European/Pākehā, 17.1% Māori, 1.6% Pacific peoples, 3.5% Asian, and 1.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.9% had no religion, 38.6% were Christian, 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 387 (8.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,395 (30.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 459 people (10.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,980 (43.3%) people were employed full-time, 582 (12.7%) were part-time, and 201 (4.4%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Stratford North (220100), Stratford Central (220300) and Stratford South (220400)}}

The Māori name for Stratford is Whakaahurangi, meaning to look to the sky. The name is taken from a story of the Ngāti Ruanui chieftainess/Puhi Ariki named Rua-pū-tahanga who fled her husband Whatihua from Waikato, travelling the track known as Te ara tapu o Ruaputahanga which stretches from Urenui down through Tariki, and ends near Patea. Here she stopped at the side of the Kahouri river near a fresh water spring. It is said she sat distraught and cried into the spring, naming it Te Puna Roimata o Ruaputahanga (The spring of Rua-pū-tahanga's tears), then camped overnight {{cvt|3|km}} east of the current town. Being a clear night, Rua-pū-tahanga lay contemplating the stars when slumber overtook her. Withdrawing in respect, her followers observed that their chieftainess slept "with her face to the sky". The site continued to be used as a camping place for Māori, the track she followed linking the south Taranaki tribes to those in north Taranaki, and further north to Kawhia. Each travelling party would recollect the story of Rua-pū-tahanga sleeping with her face to the sky.Gordon, W.F., Battersby, J.H., Richards, J.B., Kennedy, W.L., and Kelly, C.S.. Carved from the Bush: Stratford 1878-1928. 1928.

Whakaahurangi Marae, a marae (meeting ground) of the Ngāti Ruanui tribe and its Ahitahi sub-tribe, is located in Stratford. It includes a wharenui (meeting house), known as Te Whetū o Marama.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}{{tertiarysourceinline|date=December 2024}}

There is no record of Māori settlement in the vicinity of Stratford. Before British settlement the area was covered in dense forest and swamp.{{cite web |last1=Wagstaff |first1=Blyss |title=The King's Theatre |url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/list-details/9865/The%20King%E2%80%99s%20Theatre |website=Heritage New Zealand |date=9 September 2023}} The Vogel schemes of the 1870s provided the necessary impetus to lead to the construction of a railway line south of New Plymouth, and the creation of road access at the same time, to open up access to the rich soils under the mountain.

In 1876, Taranaki Waste Lands Board assistant surveyor Edwin Stanley Brookes, Jnr. cut a meridian line from Waitara to the site of Stratford, and oversaw the subdivision of a block between the Manganui River and the Pātea River. The surveying of a new site for a town on the banks of the Pātea River was authorised on 11 June 1877, and the northern half of the town (above the Pātea River) was laid out by William Skinner in July. More lots were laid out by Peter Cheal in 1879, and in 1880 Skinner was directed to survey the southern half of the town.

File:Stratford clock tower Glockenspiel - Romeo and Juliet talking.jpg

On 3 December 1877, the name Stratford-upon-Patea was adopted, on the motion of William Crompton of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board.{{cn|date=December 2024}} The town was named after Stratford-upon-Avon due to similarities of the Patea River and the River Avon in Warwickshire.{{cite magazine |last1=Martin |first1=Nicola |date=Summer 2024 |editor-last=Dunlop |editor-first=Anna |title=Work of art|magazine=Heritage New Zealand |publisher=Heritage New Zealand |pages=12–13 |issue=175 |issn=1175-9615}} The connection to William Shakespeare's hometown led to the naming of 67 streets after Shakespearian characters from 27 of his plays.

Today New Zealand's only glockenspiel clock tower plays the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet three times a day. The spoken words are provided via external loudspeakers - there is no carillon (multiple bells) as would be more typical for glockenspiels in towers.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Stratford was formally classified as a town in June 1878, and on 31 August 1878 an auction of 455 sections saw the first sections sold. By 1881 the population was 97, comprising 56 males and 41 females, with 22 houses. By 1891 this had grown to a population of 342 and by 1896 1,256. This growth continued steadily until the mid-late 20th century, and has since fluctuated between 5229 (2001) and 5664 (1996), numbering 5,337 at the last census.

The first Stratford Town Board was formed in 1882. The Stratford County Council was formed in 1890, and the Stratford Borough Council was formed on 22 July 1898. In the same year, Stratford became the third town in New Zealand to have electric street lighting, on the initiative of inventor and entrepreneur Alexander Walker Reid.{{DNZB|last=Donald|first=Mary|id=2r12|title=Alexander Walker Reid|access-date=23 April 2017}} The county and borough councils amalgamated on 1 April 1989 to form the Stratford District Council, which was reconstituted on 1 November 1989 as part of the nationwide restructure in local government.

The Kings Theatre was given Category I status by Heritage New Zealand in 2024.{{Cite news |last=Ilona Hanne |date=2024-05-26 |title=Stratford’s 'Grand Old Lady' claims her heritage crown |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tet-kings-theatre-in-taranaki-receives-category-one-heritage-status/22JU2CWIZRA63G7ID4WYFERKV4/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

There are two secondary schools in Stratford:

• Stratford High School is a coeducational secondary (years 9-13) school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|179|y}}.{{TKI|179|Stratford High School}} The school was founded in 1897{{cite web|url=http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz/|title=Home Page|publisher=Stratford High School}} and celebrated its centenary in 1997.{{cite journal|title=Stratford High School|url=http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php/?id=54139|journal=Education Gazette New Zealand|volume=76|issue=4|date=10 March 1997}} {{dead link|date=May 2009|fix-attempted=yes}}
• Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls is a state integrated Anglican girls' secondary (years 9-13) school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|180|y}}.{{TKI|180|Taranki Diocesan School}} The school was founded in 1914 and moved to its present site in 1917.{{cite web|url=https://www.taranakidio.school.nz/our-school/our-story/|title=Our Story|publisher=Taranaki Diocesan School}} Most of the students are boarders.{{cite web|url=https://www.taranakidio.school.nz/boarding/our-boarding-difference/|title=Boarding at Taranaki Dio|publisher=Taranaki Diocesan School}} The school's name changed from St Mary's Diocesan School in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Ilona Hanne |date=2024-05-26 |title=New name and logo for St Mary's Diocesan School |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/news/new-name-and-logo-for-st-marys-diocesan-school/X23ZEOCIWWFSTR6VQERGALEJSM/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

There are three primary schools within Stratford township:

• Stratford Primary School has a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2244|y}}.{{TKI|2244|Stratford Primary School}} The school was founded in 1882 and celebrated 125 years in 2007.{{cite journal|title=Stratford Primary School|url=http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php/?id=604883|journal=Education Gazette New Zealand|volume=86|issue=1|date=5 February 2007}} {{dead link|date=May 2009|fix-attempted=yes}}
• Avon School has a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2153|y}}.{{TKI|2153|Avon School}}
• St Joseph's School is a state integrated Catholic school with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2238|y}}.{{TKI|2238|St Joseph's School}}

All these primary schools are coeducational and accept students for years 1–8. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}

Stratford has a number of public parks and reserves, with names reflecting its English and Māori heritage;

• King Edward Park
• Victoria Park
• Windsor Park
• Kopuatama Cemetery

• Mark "Bull" Allen (31 July 1967), All Black, TV host
• Lisa Allpress (born 20 May, 1975), female jockey{{Cite press release |title=2024ワールドオールスタージョッキーズ出場外国騎手プロフィール |publisher=Japan Racing Association |url=https://jra.jp/datafile/seiseki/wasj/pdf/2024profile_01.pdf |access-date=2024-08-05 |language=ja}}
• Christine Arthur (26 August 1963), New Zealand field hockey player
• Arthur Collins (1906–1988), All Black
• John Graham (1 January 1935), All Black, NZRU president, NZ cricket team manager, Auckland University Chancellor, Auckland Grammar School headmaster, businessman
• Stan Lay (1906–2003) Olympic Javelin thrower (born in New Plymouth)
• Dave Loveridge (born 22 April 1952), former All Black
• John McCullough (8 January 1936), All Black
• Lane Penn, representative rugby footballer, coach, All Black selector and NZRU President
• Mark Robinson (born 17 January 1974), former All Black and current NZ Rugby CEO
• Ned Shewry (1889–1962), world champion woodchopper
• Alan Smith (10 December 1942), All Black
• Jeremiah Trueman (born 19 May 1987), New Zealand national basketball representative

• Sylvia Ashton-Warner (1908–1984), novelist, autobiographer and educational pioneer
• Michael Hight (1961), artist - painter
• Michele Leggott (1956), poet and literary scholar
• Dominic Sheehan, author of Finding Home, a novel that illustrates growing up in Stratford{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-book-awards/past-winners/?year=1997|title=Past Winners|publisher=New Zealand Book Awards|accessdate=6 October 2021}}
• Cheryll Sotheran (1945-2017), founder of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

• John Daniel Bergin (17 January 1921 – 22 July 1995), Distinguished physician and neurologist, Catholic pro-life apologist
• Mel Brieseman, missionary to India, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health
• Doris Gordon (10 July 1890 – 9 July 1956), doctor and obstetrician
• Graham Gordon (10 December 1927 – 29 February 2004), Surgeon, St John's officer, NZMA Council Chairman (1977–1988) and NZMA President (1990–1991)

• Peter Gordon (1921 – 1991), National Party politician
• David Thomson (1915–1999), Minister of Defence and Minister of Justice in the Third National Government of New Zealand
• Venn Young (1929–1993), Cabinet minister in the Muldoon National Government and homosexual rights activist

• Alice Copping (14 May 1906 – 21 August 1982), Senior lecturer in nutrition, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London
• Dr Alan Kirton (1933 - 2001), agricultural scientist
• Jack Tizard (1919-1979) Professor of Child Development, University of London. CBE

• Brian Davis, (1934–1998), Archbishop of New Zealand
• Emily Stevens (3 September 1900 – 8 August 1967), wholesale florist, nurserywoman, iris hybridiser

{{Reflist}}

• The Stratford Inheritance by Ian Church, 1990, Heritage Press Ltd, Waikanae, New Zealand: {{ISBN|0-908708-17-3}}
• Stratford: Shakespearean Town Under the Mountain by David Walter, 2005, Dunmore Publishing, Wellington, New Zealand: {{ISBN|1-877399-05-1}}

• [http://www.visit.taranaki.info/ Venture Taranaki (tourism information)]
• [http://www.stratford.govt.nz/ Stratford District Council]
• [http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-places/page-9/en Stratford in the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]

{{Territorial Authorities of New Zealand}}

{{Stratford District}}

Category:Populated places in Taranaki

Category:Stratford District, New Zealand