Tuakau#Education
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Tuakau
|image_skyline = Tuakau Memorial Hall (11302079213).jpg
|image_caption = Tuakau Memorial Hall
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = New Zealand
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = Waikato
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 = Waikato District
|subdivision_type3 = Wards
|subdivision_name3 = {{ubl|Tuakau-Pōkeno General Ward|Tai Raro Takiwaa Maaori Ward}}
|subdivision_type4 = Community
|subdivision_name4 = Onewhero-Tuakau Community
|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 = Port Waikato MP
|leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Port Waikato MP|y}}
|leader_title4 = Hauraki-Waikato MP
|leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}}
|seat_type = Electorates
|seat = {{ubl|Port Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato (Māori)}}
|image_map = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=10}}
|coordinates = {{coord|37|16|S|174|57|E|region:NZ|display=inline, title}}
|area_total_km2 = 8.31
|population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
|population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Tuakau|y}}
|population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
|population_density_km2 = auto
|postal_code_type = Postcode(s)
|postal_code = 2121
}}
Tuakau ({{langx|mi|Tūākau}}) is a town in the Waikato region at the foot of the Bombay Hills,{{cite web|url=http://www.jasons.co.nz/tuakau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528054108/http://www.jasons.co.nz/tuakau|url-status=usurped|archive-date=28 May 2011|title=Tuakau Travel Guide |publisher=Jasons Travel Media}} formerly part of the Franklin District until 2010, when it became part of Waikato District in the North Island of New Zealand. The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees of New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook.
Toponymy
The place name is believed to be a geographical reference to the high bluff nearby that offers views down the Waikato river. In Māori the word {{lang|mi|tū}} can mean 'to stand' and {{lang|mi|ākau}} 'river bank'.{{citation|url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/keyword/tuakau |title=Tuakau |publisher=nzhistory.net.nz }}
History and culture
=Pre-European history=
The area was first used as a trading centre for passing waka that would transport goods up and down the Waikato River.
=European settlement=
A flax mill was built in 1855.{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18550301.2.7|title=Maori Mills. (Maori Messenger: Te Karere Maori, 1855-03-01)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|access-date=2017-04-24}}
In 1863 war broke out because the British Crown forced the Waikato people out of their lands just south of the river and the New Zealand Government stationed in Tuakau Imperial troops brought over from Great Britain.{{clarify|date=November 2018}} To help defend the area the Alexandra Redoubt was built as a defensive fort on the bluff near the river. The existing town which was originally intended to be built closer to the Waikato River was subsequently built in an area 2 km further inland.
The railway from Auckland reached Tuakau in 1875, when the Tuakau Railway Station was opened.
=Recent history=
By 1914 the people of Tuakau had formed their own town district which went on to achieve borough status on 1 January 1955.{{cite report|url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/UnitaryPlanDocuments/pc7-02807-franklin-county-council-chambers.pdf|publisher=Auckland Council|title=Franklin County Council Chambers (Former)|author=The Heritage Studio|date=July 2017}} During its 44 years as a borough, Tuakau had seven mayors:{{cite web |url=http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/CityArchives/DigitalExhibitions/elected_rep_timeline/timeline.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521152047/http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/CityArchives/DigitalExhibitions/elected_rep_timeline/timeline.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2017 |title=Timeline of Auckland mayors |publisher=Auckland Council Archives |accessdate=12 September 2019}}
| class="wikitable"
! !Name !Term |
| 1
| E.A. Clayton | align=center |1955–1959 |
| 2
| T.F. Hutchinson | align=center |1959–1961 |
| 3
| A.H. Lockyer | align=center |1961–1962 |
| 4
| G.A. McGuire | align=center |1962–1971 |
| 5
| E.B. Wild | align=center |1971–1980 |
| 6
| T.N. Tuhimata | align=center |1980–1983 |
| 7
| H.B. Armitage | align=center |1983–1989 |
Amalgamations since 1989 has seen it first become part of the Franklin District governed by a district council and then in 2010 with border changes saw it became part of Waikato district when present-day Auckland Council boundaries were created.
=Marae=
Tuakau has two marae (Maori sacred or communal place), affiliated with the hapū (Māori sub-tribe or clan) of Waikato Tainui (a tribal confederation based in the Waikato Region). Ngā Tai e Rua Marae and its Ngā Tai e Rua meeting house are a meeting place Ngāti Āmaru, Ngāti Koheriki and Ngāti Tiipa. Tauranganui Marae and its Rangiwahitu meeting house are a meeting place for Ngāti Āmaru Ngati Rangiwahitu , Ngati Kaiaua and Ngāti Tiipa.{{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}}
Bridges
= Tuakau Bridge =
The town's 'Tuakau Bridge' replaced the need for a ferry from November 1902.C W Vennell & Susan Williams: Raglan County Hills and Sea 1876–1976 p. 158 A span of the original wooden bridge{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19330328.2.119|title=Bridge Over Waikato (New Zealand Herald, 1933-03-28)|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand|access-date=2017-03-25}} collapsed on 23 August 1929{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AS19290824.1.9|title=Papers Past — Auckland Star — 24 August 1929 — Page 9|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|type=with 2 photos|access-date=2016-04-17}} and was replaced by the current £24,000 ($2.9m at 2015 prices),[http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary_policy/inflation_calculator/ Bank of New Zealand inflation calculator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630135426/http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary_policy/inflation_calculator/ |date=30 June 2013 }} {{convert|750|ft|abbr=on}} bridge from 22 June 1933,[https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/Documents-Library/Files/Documents/Plans,-reports,-publications/Structure-Plans/Tuakau-Structure-Plan/Built-Heritage-Assesst1.aspx Waikato District Council: Tuakau Structure Plan Built Heritage Assessment 2014 – with photos] designed by Jones & Adams,{{Cite news|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=NZH19300530.2.22.11&zto=1|title=Proposed New Concrete Bridge Across The Waikato River at Tuakau. The Raglan County Council Has Decided To Adopt The Proposal To Re-erect The Tuakau Bridge at an Estimated Cost Of £24,000. The Structure Will Be The First Reinforced Concrete Bowstring Girder Type of Bridge To Be Erected in This Country. The Engineers Are Messrs. Jones And Adams. (with photo)|date=1930-05-30|work=The New Zealand Herald |pages=8|access-date=2016-04-17}} who also built Horotiu (1921), Te Aroha (1926), Ngamuwahine River (1930) and Fairfield bridges (1937).{{Cite web|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/4161|title=Search the List {{!}} Fairfield Bridge {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|website=www.heritage.org.nz|access-date=2016-04-17}} It was once part of State Highway 22.
= Gas pipeline aerial crossing =
About {{convert|3|km|abbr=on|}} upstream from Tuakau Bridge, at the end of Brown Rd,{{Cite web|url=http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-37.287833,174.968428&z=15|title=New Zealand Topographic Map – NZ Topo Map|website=NZ Topo Map|access-date=2017-11-09}} the river is crossed by the First Gas 400-line gas transmission pipe, which supplies gas from the Maui gas pipeline at Rotowaro to Auckland and Northland.{{Cite web|url=http://firstgas.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/FGL_transmission_2016_asset_management_plan.pdf|title=Gas Transmission Asset Management Plan – 2016|website=First Gas}} The {{convert|350|mm|abbr=on|}} pipe crosses on a {{convert|376|m|abbr=on|yd}}, 11 pier, truss bridge, {{convert|14|m|abbr=on|}} above the water, which was built in 1980 and renovated in 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.apia.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Part%2010.pdf|title=Case Study: Waikato River Aerial Crossing. New Zealand|year=2007|website=Vector Gas}}
Demographics
Stats NZ describes Tuakau as a small urban area. It covers {{Convert|8.31|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=10 March 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Tuakau|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Tuakau|y}}|R}}/8.31|0}} people per km2.
{{Historical populations|2006|3,609|2013|4,359|2018|5,103|2023|5,736|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Tuakau North (170000) and Tuakau South (170300)}}|footnote=The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 5.35 km2.}}
Tuakau had a population of 5,736 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 633 people (12.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,377 people (31.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,784 males, 2,934 females and 21 people of other genders in 1,884 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%2Bdo1.1159%2B170001%2B170300.2023&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}} 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,380 people (24.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,122 (19.6%) aged 15 to 29, 2,547 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 693 (12.1%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 64.3% European (Pākehā); 31.6% Māori; 11.0% Pasifika; 11.7% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.4%, Māori language by 7.2%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 12.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 29.3% Christian, 2.4% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 1.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.9%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 639 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,439 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,284 (29.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 399 people (9.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,457 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 528 (12.1%) were part-time, and 126 (2.9%) 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.1159.2013%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=Tuakau (1159)}}
Public Sporting Facilities
Tuakau has sporting facilities available to the public. The Dr John Lightbody Reserve sporting complex on George Street features a swimming pool, sports fields, tennis courts, netball courts and a skate park. The Tuakau Centennial Swimming Pool is open to the public, is used for swimming lessons and is used by Tuakau School and Tuakau College for sports days. The sports fields are used for athletics, and team sports including rugby, touch rugby, soccer. The sports fields have change rooms and a rugby club rooms. The following sports clubs use or are based in the complex: Tuakau Rugby Football Club, Tuakau Soccer Club. The reserve has public toilets.
Education
The main primary school is Tuakau School, where Sir Edmund Hillary and Hugh Poland were educated.{{cite book | page=172 | editor-last = Scholefield | editor-first = Guy | editor-link = Guy Scholefield | title = A Dictionary of New Zealand Biography : M–Addenda | volume = II | year = 1940 | publisher = Department of Internal Affairs | location = Wellington | url = https://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/documents/dnzb-1940/scholefield-dnzb-v2.pdf | accessdate = 13 December 2015}} It is a co-educational state primary school,{{cite web |title=Tuakau School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1539 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1539|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.{{cite web |title=Tuakau School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1539 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The school first opened in 1870,{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21784886|title=Tuakau Primary School 1870-1970|publisher=National Library of New Zealand [record]|access-date=10 March 2025}} and moved to its current location in 1922.{{cite web|url=https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/manukau/id/2281/|title=8 March 1922|publisher=Auckland Libraries|access-date=10 March 2025}}
Harrisville School is located to the north, at Harrisville.
Tuakau College is the district's state secondary school,{{cite web |title=Tuakau College Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=106 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|106|y}}.{{cite web |title=Tuakau College Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=106 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The college opened in 1974.{{cite web|url=https://www.tuakaucollege.com/our-college-and-our-kawa|title=Our College and our Kawa|publisher=Tuakau College|access-date=10 March 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{crossings navbox|structure=Structures|place=Waikato River|upstream=Caesar Roose Bridge 1972|downstream=Tasman Sea|bridge=Tuakau Bridge 1933 (replacing 1902)|state=collapsed}}
{{Waikato District}}
{{Authority control}}