Te Rapa

Te Rapa and neighbouring Pukete were important sites for the kauri gum trade of the late 19th/early 20th centuries, being some of the southern-most locations where gum could be found.{{cite book |last1=Hayward |first1=Bruce W. |author-link1=Bruce Hayward |title=Kauri Gum and the Gumdiggers |publisher=The Bush Press |date=1989 |isbn=0-908608-39-X |page=4}}

Te Rapa covers {{Convert|13.16|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=5 April 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Te Rapa North|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Te Rapa South|y}}|R}}|0}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|({{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Te Rapa North|y}}|R}}+{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Te Rapa South|y}}|R}})/13.16|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|327|2013|303|2018|288|2023|348|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Te Rapa North (175200) and Te Rapa South (176300)}}}}

Te Rapa had a population of 348 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (20.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 45 people (14.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 177 males, 168 females and 3 people of other genders in 168 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.175201%2B176301.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 4.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 30 people (8.6%) aged under 15 years, 48 (13.8%) aged 15 to 29, 96 (27.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (50.9%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.2% European (Pākehā); 16.4% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 10.3% Asian; 0.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.7%, Māori language by 3.4%, and other languages by 9.5%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 18.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 48.3% Christian, 1.7% Hindu, 2.6% Māori religious beliefs, and 2.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 38.8%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 39 (12.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 162 (50.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 123 (38.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 12 people (3.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 99 (31.1%) people were employed full-time, 30 (9.4%) were part-time, and 3 (0.9%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.175201%2B176301.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Te Rapa North (175201) and Te Rapa South (176301)}}

{{table alignment}}

Te Rapa South has a high median age because 147 of the residents are in the Bupa Foxbridge Retirement Village and Care Home.{{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) (Meshblock 4014679)|access-date=5 April 2025}}

{{Adjacent place

| centre = Te Rapa

| northeast=Pukete

| northwest=Rotokauri

| west=Frankton

| southwest=Forest Lake

| south=Crawshaw

| southeast=Beerescourt

| east=St Andrews

| north=Horotiu

}}

There are two Post Shops in Te Rapa, at The Base and at Video Ezy,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/postshop-kiwibank-locator/Te%20Rapa%20Road,%20Te%20Rapa,%20Hamilton%203200|title=PostShop/Kiwibank Locator|website=www.nzpost.co.nz|access-date=2019-01-20}} which, until 2018, was one of the last two in Hamilton renting DVDs, Play Station and videos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.neighbourly.co.nz/public/hamilton/beerescourt/message/51055665|title=KIDS DVDS, FAMILY DVDS , ACTION ,DRAMA, XBOX GAMES CONSULS, PLAY STATION, GAMES BLURAY EVEN THE SHELVING - Neighbourly Beerescourt, Hamilton|website=www.neighbourly.co.nz|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-20}}

File:The_Base_carpark.jpg

{{Main|The Base (shopping centre)}}

Prior to being handed back to the Tainui tribe by the government as part of the Raupatu land settlement in 1995, Te Rapa was the site of a Royal New Zealand Air Force base. The base served as a major Air Force stores depot. The Te Rapa Air Force base closed in 1992.

Te Rapa's shopping area includes The Base, a large-scale retail development that opened in 2005{{cite book|author=Mark Smith|title=Ngaruawahia 1980-2010 A Brief History|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=548wnQEACAAJ|access-date=9 October 2016|date=2012|publisher=Lions Club of Ngaruawahia Incorporated Charitable Trust|isbn=978-0-473-21930-7}} at the site of the former air force base. As of 2006, The Base contained the largest branch of The Warehouse in New Zealand. With the addition of the Te Awa building in 2010, The Base became New Zealand's largest shopping mall, and still is, as of December 2011.

File:Fonterra_Facility_Near_Hamilton.jpg

One of Fonterra's largest dairy factories is to the east of the former SH1 in northern Te Rapa. It started to dry powder in 1967{{Cite web |date=2017-06-02 |title=Fonterra builds value-add capacity at Te Rapa to meet Chinese demand |url=https://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/our-stories/media/fonterra-builds-value-add-capacity-at-te-rapa-to-meet-chinese-demand.html |access-date=2020-04-05 |website=Fonterra}} and was officially opened on 20 April 1968 by New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company,{{Cite web |date=2018-04-20 |title=Te Rapa celebrates 50 years |url=https://www.fonterra.com/nz/en/our-stories/articles/te-rapa-celebrates-50-years.html |access-date=2020-04-05 |website=Fonterra}} which became part of Fonterra in 2001. A butter, cream and cream cheese plant was added in 1997, another cream cheese line in 2013, and another butter line in about 2019.{{Citation |title=Opening the Gates at Te Rapa |date=2019-06-21 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5avEPd8rLtM |access-date=2020-04-05 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/5avEPd8rLtM |url-status=live |language=en |archive-date=2021-12-14}}{{cbignore}}

It collects up to {{Convert|7500000|l||abbr=on}} of milk a day from 1,000 farms. It has around 500 staff, producing roughly 80,000 tonnes a year, including 650 million packets of butter and 33,500 tonnes of cream cheese.

Up to {{Convert|28000|m3|impgal|abbr=on}} of Waikato River water are used in the processing. It is powered by a cogeneration unit, which uses {{Convert|27|PJ|mWh|abbr=on}} of Genesis gas over 6 years.{{Cite web |last=Suze |first=Metherell |date=2014-06-25 |title=Contact extends Fonterra electricity supply at Te Rapa, will buy Genesis gas |url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/contact-extends-fonterra-electricity-supply-te-rapa-will-buy-genesis-gas-bd-158228 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708075607/http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/contact-extends-fonterra-electricity-supply-te-rapa-will-buy-genesis-gas-bd-158228 |archive-date=8 July 2014 |access-date=2020-04-05 |website=NBR |language=en}} The chimneys are over {{Convert|35|m||abbr=on}} high.{{Cite web |date=Nov 2018 |title=Application to renew existing consents (Various) At Te Rapa, Hamilton |url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/assets/compiled-s42A-report-Fonterra-Te-Rapa.pdf |website=Waikato Regional Council}}

Located in Te Rapa is Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton's only remaining horse racing course, and the main racecourse for the Waikato region. It has a symmetrical left-handed (anti-clockwise) track with a circumference of 1788 metres.

The course originated with Waikato Turf Club in 1873, which met at Whatawhata and Pirongia. In 1887 it became the South Auckland Racing Club at Claudelands, renamed Hamilton Racing Club in 1916 and moving to {{Convert|400|acre}} at Te Rapa in 1924.{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://www.teraparacing.co.nz/about|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Te Rapa Racing|language=en}}File:Te_Rapa_racecourse.jpg

Facilities and hospitalities include a members' facility and private suites.[http://www.nzracing.co.nz/Goracing/Racecourse.aspx/50 NZ Racing] Retrieved December 2011

Major races held at the Te Rapa racecourse include:

• Waikato Cup over 2400m in early December.
• Waikato Sprint over 1400m in February.
• New Zealand International Stakes also known as the Herbie Dyke Stakes, a weight-for-age event over 2000m in February.

File:Plaque1981.JPG at the Centennial Pools.]]

Waterworld (also known as Te Rapa Pools) is a Hamilton city council-owned pool complex in Te Rapa. In addition to the main facilities, the venue also includes a range of other options including a spa, sauna and steam rooms as well as an outdoor playground. Rides offered at Waterworld include The Python Hydroslide, the Twister Slide and The Screamer Speedslides.[http://www.hamiltonpools.co.nz/index.php?section=12 Hamilton Pools - Facilities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426052425/http://www.hamiltonpools.co.nz/index.php?section=12 |date=2012-04-26 }} Retrieved December 2011 The complex was officially opened in late 1976, 15 years after Hamilton Jaycees suggested a new swimming pool complex in Fairfield Park. The suggestion led to an adopted proposal in 1964 to mark the city's centennial and in 1973 the decision was made to instead build the complex in Te Rapa.{{cite news | work=Waikato Times | date=14 October 1976 | title=Hamilton Suburbs I Te Rapa Information Kit | publisher=Hamilton Public Library}}

File:Te_Rapa_Road_in_2008.jpg

Immediately after the invasion of the Waikato, in 1864, there was just a track across the area linking Mangaharakeke (or Manuharakeke) Pā and Kirikiriroa Pā.{{Cite web|url=http://digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz/nzc/map/033.html|title=Historical Maps Collection - Map of part of the Waikato River No.2|website=digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}} By 1870 bridges had been built over the streams.{{Cite web|url=http://digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz/nzc/map/040.html|title=Historical Maps Collection - Sketch map of the Waikato District|date=1870|website=digital.liby.waikato.ac.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}} An 1875 report said the bridges at Waitawhiriwhiri, Mangaharakeke, Beere's Creek and Hall's Creek, between Ngāruawāhia and Hamilton on the Great South Road, had been replaced, or repaired.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1875/I/1047|title=Public Works Statement, by the Minister for Public Works, The Hon. Edward Richardson|date=3 August 1875|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}} Until Mangaharakeke Dr opened in 2012,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/new-length-of-waikato-expressway-now-open-to-traffic/|title=New length of Waikato Expressway now open to traffic|website=www.nzta.govt.nz|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-01-21}} much of the 1860s road, now known as Te Rapa Rd, was part of SH1. See also - List of streets in Hamilton.

File:NZR_DL_Class_at_Te_Rapa.jpg

Te Rapa railway station opened when the North Island Main Trunk was extended from Ngāruawāhia to Hamilton on 19 December 1877. Te Rapa is at the northern end of the section to Palmerston North, electrified in 1988. Electrification ends just north of the {{Convert|545|km|abbr=on}} post (distance north of Wellington).{{Cite web|date=Nov 2018|title=KiwiRail Network Map|url=https://kiwirail.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=556c4a9c73914fe1983529ddf9ae5099|access-date=2021-09-23|website=kiwirail.maps.arcgis.com}} A locomotive depot and marshalling yard incorporated the Racecourse station site. There is also a concrete sleeper factory at Te Rapa.{{Cite web|url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/concrete-sleeper-factory-opens/5/118631|title=Concrete sleeper factory opens|date=23 March 2012|website=www.voxy.co.nz|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}}File:Te_Rapa_hump_yard,_Hamilton.jpg

£720 was spent to open Te Rapa Racecourse passenger platform, near the south-west end of the course,{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19240218.2.123|title=New Zealand Herald Page 10|date=18 February 1924|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}} on 15 October 1924.Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble (2012) The mileage to the middle of the Racecourse platform was reported as {{convert|82|mi|57|ch|abbr=on}} in 1924 (Frankton Jct was {{convert|83|mi|77|ch|abbr=on}} from Auckland in 1882, but that station was moved north in 1909). The first excursions seem to have been advertised for Labour Day, 27 October 1924.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19241022.2.156.2|title=New Zealand Herald Page 20|date=22 October 1924|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}}{{Cite web|date=24 Oct 1924|title=WAIKATO TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19241024.2.32.4|access-date=2021-09-23|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} The last advert was in November 1943.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19431113.2.103.6|title=Auckland Star Page 10|date=13 November 1943|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}} In 1930 the line was double tracked and equipped with automatic signalling.{{Cite web|title=RAILWAYS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, THE HON. W. A. VEITCH. (Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1930-01-01)|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1930-I.2.2.3.5/3|access-date=16 June 2017|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|language=en}} Associated with that work, footbridge No 62A was built in 1929 (it was removed about 1963) and {{Convert|10|ch|m|abbr=on}} long landings were formed at rail level on both lines, with access to the back of the racecourse. By January 1935 horse loading banks had been completed. Approval to remove them was given in 1953, after being disused for years. Final closure was in late 1967. Aerial photos show that the site of the station,{{Cite web|url=https://files.interpret.co.nz/Retrolens/Imagery/SN525/Crown_525_1576_3/High.jpg|title=Survey Number: SN525|date=3 Dec 1948|website=Retrolens}} and an area to the north, was later used for the marshalling yard{{Cite web|url=https://files.interpret.co.nz/Retrolens/Imagery/SN8268/Crown_8268_B_5/High.jpg|title=Survey Number: SN8268|date=1 Dec 1983|website=Retrolens}} and then the locomotive and freight depot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Te+Rapa+Rd,+Beerescourt,+Hamilton/@-37.7680358,175.2410893,1313m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d6d22fa94910b77:0x1107bdeb8992766a!8m2!3d-37.7667297!4d175.2577673|title=Te Rapa Rd|website=Google maps|language=en|access-date=2019-01-21}}

{{Historical Rail Start}}

{{rail line|previous=Te Rapa
Line open
Station reopened as Rotokauri in 2021
{{convert|3|km|abbr=on}}|next=Frankton Jct
Line open,
Hamilton Station open
{{convert|1|mi|20|ch|abbr=on}}|route=North Island Main Trunk
New Zealand Railways Department
now KiwiRail|col=}}

{{end box}}

On 1 April 2003 a container terminal opened, with overhead lines, for shunting by electric locomotives.{{Cite web |last=Scoble |first=Juliet |title=Station Archive |url=https://railheritage.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Station_Archive_4web-2.xls |website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand}}

Fonterra's Crawford St depot is linked by rail to local dairy factories at Te Awamutu, Morrinsville, Waitoa, Hautapu, Waharoa, Lichfield and Tīrau.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10401285|title=Waikato freight rail link reopens|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=2006-09-14|access-date=2019-01-21|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}} It sends about 33,000 containers of milk powder and cheese a year for export via the Port of Tauranga. An automated cool store was added in 2009{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-city/economicdevelopment/economicdevelopmentagenda/Documents/Attachment%201%20-%20Presentation%20of%20Hamiltons%20Economy%20(May%202015).pdf|title=PRESENTATION OF HAMILTON'S ECONOMY|date=May 2015|website=Hamilton City Council}} to handle about 235,000 tonnes a year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?id=57332|title=Fonterra opens New Zealand's largest cool store|date=10 September 2010|website=www.infonews.co.nz|access-date=2019-01-21}}

Construction of a new marshalling yard near the Racecourse began in December 1967.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en}} The yard replaced Frankton goods yard{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u_Qi6bqA2YwC&q=te+rapa+hump+shunt&pg=PA3044|title=Parliamentary Debates. House of Representatives|date=1967|language=en|last1=Parliament|first1=New Zealand}} and opened on 10 January 1971. It had a hump for shunting,[http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf Juliet Scoble: Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand] which used Westinghouse retarders{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SU4hAQAAIAAJ&q=te+rapa+hump+shunt&pg=PA951|title=Parliamentary Debates|last=Representatives|first=New Zealand Parliament House of|date=1970|language=en}} and 31 sidings.{{Cite web|url=https://files.interpret.co.nz/Retrolens/Imagery/SN2553/Crown_2553_B_6/High.jpg|title=Survey Number: SN2553 Run Number: B Photo Number: 6|date=3 Dec 1972|website=Retrolens}}

Te Rapa School is a full primary school catering for years 1-8. It has {{NZ school roll data|2020|y}} students.{{TKI|2020|Te Rapa School}} Te Rapa School has been the local primary school since 1906.{{Cite web|url=http://www.terapa.school.nz/aboutUs.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730092206/http://www.terapa.school.nz/aboutUs.html|url-status=dead|title=Te Rapa Primary School Website|archivedate=30 July 2012}}

St Peter Chanel Catholic School is a state integrated full primary school catering for years 1-8. It has {{NZ school roll data|1964|y}} students.{{TKI|1964|St Peter Chanel Catholic School}}

Both these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.the-base.co.nz/|The Base official website}}
• {{Official website|http://www.teraparacing.co.nz/|Te Rapa Racecourse official website}}
• [https://www.facebook.com/1016672045011633/photos/a.1016753408336830/1068225866522917/?type=1&theater 1973 photo of retarder at railway marshalling yard]
• [https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/cameras/250 NZTA live cameras at Te Rapa / Wairere Drive junction]

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