Ruapuke

{{Infobox settlement

| name =

| official_name = Ruapuke

| motto =

| image_skyline = File:Ruapuke from Karioi summit.jpg

| image_caption = Ruapuke from Karioi summit, with Aotea Harbour and Albatross Point beyond

| pushpin_map = New Zealand

| pushpin_map_alt =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name = New Zealand

| subdivision_name1 = Waikato

| subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority

| subdivision_name2 = Waikato District

| subdivision_type3 = Wards

| subdivision_name3 = {{ubl|Whaingaroa General Ward|Tai Runga Takiwaa Maaori Ward}}

| subdivision_type4 = Community Board

| subdivision_name4 = Raglan Community Board

| leader_title = Territorial Authority

| leader_name = Waikato District Council

| leader_title1 = Regional council

| leader_name1 = Waikato Regional Council

| leader_title2 = Mayor of Waikato

| leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waikato District Mayor|y}}

| leader_title3 = Taranaki-King Country MP

| leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Taranaki-King Country MP|y}}

| leader_title4 = Hauraki-Waikato MP

| leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}}

| seat_type = Electorates

| seat = {{ubl|Taranaki-King Country|Hauraki-Waikato (Māori)}}

| utc_offset = +12

| timezone = NZST

| timezone_DST = NZDT

| utc_offset_DST = +13

| coordinates = {{coord|-37.91351|174.78702|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| population_footnotes =

| postal_code = 3296

| population_total = 138

| population_as_of = 2023

}}

File:Ruapuke_Papanui_Pt_and_Swann_Access_Rd_carpark.jpg

Ruapuke is a small farming community (predominantly sheep and cattle farmers) in the Waikato region on the slopes of Karioi, between Raglan and Kawhia in New Zealand.

History

The introduction to 'Ruapuke' says, "The greater part of the Ruapuke District is of a sandy loam, and at one time carried a large population of Maoris, as is evidenced by old pas, great heaps of shells, warehouse sites and numerous kumara storage pits. When the first Europeans arrived the sandy country was covered with patches of light bush, with a big proportion of Karaka, Pūriri, and Cabbage trees. The balance was covered with Tauhinu, Teatree, Flax and Fern. The clay portion of the district, (inland and on the slopes of Mt Karioi) was in heavy bush."Ruapuke: F J Trolove first printed 1970 lists 22 families living in Ruapuke in 1969, including chapters on Swann, Thomson, Jackson, Ward, Given and Trolove The archaeological map shows over 40 sites in the area.{{Cite web|title = NZAA Site Viewer|url = http://nzaa.eaglegis.co.nz/NZAAPublic/|website = nzaa.eaglegis.co.nz|access-date = 2016-01-08|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090626044726/http://nzaa.eaglegis.co.nz/NZAAPublic/|archive-date = 2009-06-26}} The European settlers, George Charlton and his sons-in-law, Captains Swann and Liddell, arrived in the 1850s. [1]

The {{Convert|4413|acre||abbr=on}} Ruapuke block was bought by the government from Ngāti Whakamarurangi between 1854 and 1856 for £300. A Waitangi Tribunal report says, "McLean appears to have applied pressure on Māori sellers to induce them to accept a price they had previously rejected . . . We find that, in this way, the Crown failed to act honourably and in good faith".{{Cite web|url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_142124627/Te%20Mana%20Whatu%20Ahuru.pdf|title=Te Mana Whatu Ahuru Waitangi Tribunal Report 2018}}

Ruapuke had a school from 1877 till 1954. The school was rebuilt in 1937.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370410.2.98|title=NEW SCHOOL OPENED, New Zealand Herald|date=10 April 1937|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-02-09}} It has been replaced by a school bus.{{Cite web|title = Buses|url = http://www.temataraglan.school.nz/buses.html|website = Te Mata School|access-date = 2016-01-08}}File:Papanui_Point.jpgThere was a store at Motakotako from the 1860s. From about 1875 to 1883 it was run by John William Ellis, who later founded Ellis & Burnand. Another store opened briefly in the 1890s.

From 1873{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18731125.2.10|title=NEW ZEALAND HERALD|date=25 Nov 1873|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-02-09}} until the 1900s there were up to three flaxmills running.

Demographics

File:Ruapuke from Karioi.JPGThe area north of Ruapuke Beach Rd is in meshblock 0861502 (N) and south of it in 0861800 (S). They had these census figures{{Cite web|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/Maps/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx?url=/StatsMaps/Home/Maps/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx&viewer=viewer_config_2013_Live.txt&webmap=map_config.txt&layerId=1&featureId=527700|title=2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place|website=archive.stats.govt.nz|language=en-nz|access-date=2018-01-29}} -

class="wikitable" \| ! colspan="3" \|Population ! colspan="3" \|Households ! colspan="2" \|Median age ! colspan="2" \|Average income !National average
Year !N !S !total !N !S !total !N !S !N !S \|
2001 \|60 \|57 \|117 \|24 \|15 \|39 \|39.5 \|37.5 \|$22,500 \|$12,500 \|$18,500
2006 \|39 \|69 \|108 \|18 \|21 \|49 \|40 \|34 \|$28,300 \|$15,400 \|$24,100
2013 \|54 \|60 \|114 \|27 \|24 \|51 \|43.8 \|41.5 \|$32,500 \|$20,800 \|$27,900
2018 \|66 \|69 \|135{{NZ census meshblock 2018\|0861502 and 0861800}} \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|
2023 \|63 \|75 \|138{{Cite web\|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service\|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/\|at=2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock)\|access-date=28 March 2025}} \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|

class="wikitable"

! colspan="3" |Population

! colspan="3" |Households

! colspan="2" |Median age

! colspan="2" |Average income

!National average

Year

!total

2001

|60

|57

|117

|24

|15

|39

|39.5

|37.5

|$22,500

|$12,500

|$18,500

2006

|39

|69

|108

|18

|21

|49

|40

|34

|$28,300

|$15,400

|$24,100

2013

|54

|60

|114

|27

|24

|51

|43.8

|41.5

|$32,500

|$20,800

|$27,900

2018

|66

|69

|135{{NZ census meshblock 2018|0861502 and 0861800}}

2023

|63

|75

|138{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock)|access-date=28 March 2025}}

Roads

Ruapuke is about {{Convert|12|km||abbr=on}} from Te Mata.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-37.9029515,174.800508/Te+Mata,+Raglan+3295/@-37.8828102,174.8068241,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d132a6eace00b63:0x4334c4cf7312a888!2m2!1d174.8833333!2d-37.8833333!3e0|title=827 Ruapuke Rd to Te Mata|website=Google maps|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}} {{Convert|840|m|mi|abbr=on}} of Ruapuke Road was sealed and some bends removed in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.raglan23.co.nz/news/council-gets-ready-to-start-ruapuke-road-seal-extension-project/|title=Council gets ready to start Ruapuke Road Seal Extension Project|website=www.raglan23.co.nz|access-date=2019-02-22}} It is often used for rally car competitions.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fiatcarclub.co.nz/index.php?s=ruapuke |title=Ruapuke | Search Results | Fiat Club Waikato |access-date=22 January 2013 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235149/http://www.fiatcarclub.co.nz/index.php?s=ruapuke |url-status=dead }}

The north end of Ruapuke Beach is about {{Convert|23|km||abbr=on}} from Raglan via Whaanga Road and Te Toto Gorge, which is gravel, winding,{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/-37.8916163,174.7649387/Raglan/@-37.8533929,174.7696793,12z/data=!4m10!4m9!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d132aa119f6886d:0x500ef6143a2fc50!2m2!1d174.8717945!2d-37.8014057!3e0!5i2|title=Swann Access Rd to Raglan|website=Google maps|language=en|access-date=2019-02-22}} mountainous and described as 'iconic' in descriptions of Rally New Zealand.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/|title=Motorsport: Paddon gears up for trophy hunt|first=Eric|last=Thompson|date=6 May 2011|via=www.nzherald.co.nz}}

File:Mouth_of_Ruapuke_Stream.jpg

= Roading History =

File:Ruapuke Beach from south.JPGUntil 1864 settlement was along the coast and relied on access by boat. Then a track was cut along what is now Waimaori Rd.{{Cite book|title=Ruapuke|last=Trolove|first=F J|year=1970}}

Ruapuke Rd (originally known as Ruapuke Mountain Rd) was built as a shorter route from 1902{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WAIGUS19020830.2.12|title=Waikato Argus, RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL|date=30 Aug 1902|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-02-22}} and was metalled in 1935.{{Cite web|url=https://atojs.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/atojs?a=d&d=AJHR1935-I.2.2.3.1&cl|title=1935 Public Works Statement|website=atojs.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-02-22}}

Surfing

Until the 1990s the beach largely remained unknown, used by local residents and a few surfing and surfcasting fishing enthusiasts. Ruapuke beach is sometimes used as a backup beach for events such as the Billabong Pro Junior Series (2007),{{Cite web |title=Top Australian Surfers Prepare for Billabong Pro Junior Series |url=https://surfeuropemag.com/features/news/top-australian-surfers-prepare-for-billabong-pro-junior-series.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Surf Europe |language=en-US}} and the Backdoor Oceanbridge Manu Bay Pro (2019),{{Cite web |last=Kennings |first=Ben |date=2019-05-05 |title=Back-to-Back for Cederman at Backdoor Oceanbridge Manu Bay Pro |url=https://surfingnz.co.nz/back-back-cederman-backdoor-oceanbridge-manu-bay-pro/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Surfing New Zealand |language=en-AU}} due to conditions.

References

External links

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/surfing/sites/features/pages/new_zealand4.shtml BBC Profile]

{{Geographic Location|title=Neighbouring areas|Northwest=|North=Raglan|Northeast=Karioi|West=Tasman Sea|Centre=Ruapuke|East=Te Mata|South=Aotea Harbour|Southeast=Pakoka River}}

Category:Populated places in Waikato

Category:Waikato District