Pirongiais a small town in theWaipa Districtof theWaikatoregion of New Zealand'sNorth Island.It is 12 kilometres to the west ofTe Awamutu,on the banks of theWaipā River,close to the foot of the 962 metreMount Pirongia,which lies inPirongia Forest Parkto the west of the town.
Pirongia | |
|---|---|
Village | |
 A view of Pirongia village, taken from the slopes of Mount Pirongia | |
 | |
| Coordinates:38°00′S175°12′E/ 38.000°S 175.200°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato |
| District | Waipa District |
| Ward | Pirongia Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Waipa District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| Area | |
• Territorial | 3.27 km2(1.26 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Territorial | 1,420 |
| • Density | 430/km2(1,100/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12(NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13(NZDT) |
Pirongia was originally namedAlexandra,after the EnglishPrincess of Wales,but to avoid confusion withthe town of that namein theSouth Islandthe name was changed to Pirongia. Some of the village's businesses and organisations such as the Alexandra Hotel and the Alexandra Racing Club retain the earlier name. Alexandra Racing Club, established in 1866, is reputed to be the second oldest racing club in New Zealand.[citation needed]
History
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(October 2022) |
Early history
editAt the northern end of the town, between theWaipā Riverand theMangapiko Stream,is the site of Mātakitakipā.This was the location of aMāoribattle in May 1822 between invading musket-armedNgāpuhiled byHongi Hikaand defendingWaikatoled byPōtatau Te Wherowhero,during themusket wars.[3]
Pirongia was sited where it is because of its proximity to the Aukati (the confiscation line along thePuniu River) and because in those days this was as far up theWaipā Riverthat river steamers, supplying the new frontier settlements, could safely travel. As a result, Pirongia (Alexandra) was planned to be the hub servicing severalredoubtsettlements in the area. A large settlement was envisaged and 800 town sections were surveyed. Initially, there were two military redoubts here on the east and west sides of the river. Later a thirdArmed ConstabularyRedoubt was constructed to replace the other two. The Armed Constabulary redoubt site can be viewed on Bellot Street and the site of the military redoubt is on Aubin Close. The AC Redoubt is well preserved and is protected by theHistoric Places Trust.
19th century
editPirongia remained of strategic importance until 1881 whenKing Tāwhiaoand his followers symbolically laid down their arms near the intersection of Crozier and Franklin Streets and declared peace, signaling an end to the armed conflict.
Initially, the settlement prospered. In its heyday of the mid-1870s, there were two hotels, a variety of shops, a bank, a blacksmith, a lending library, a school and later a creamery, mainly on Crozier and Franklin Streets.
However, the decision to route the main trunk railway viaTe Awamutu,and the resulting gradual decline in the importance of river transport, together with the dispersal from the King Country ofKing Tāwhiaoand his followers, meant that by the 1890s, Pirongia (Alexandra) was being superseded byTe Awamutuand other settlements on the railway line. One solution which was surveyed was alight railway,but an election in 1923 saw the scheme dropped.[4]Many businesses moved toTe Awamutuor closed and the settlement gradually assumed the character of a small farming centre.
Modern history
edit
The village has experienced rapid population growth since the 1980s as city-dwellers seeking a rural lifestyle have migrated to Pirongia. This has changed the town's character from rural to suburban in a short period of time.
Pirongia has a rural fire force located in the village to protect native bush in the area. The rural fire force has a specialised off-road appliance designed for tough off-road terrain.
Pirongia Rugby Club has strong teams in the Waikato competition.
Pirongia is also home to Pirongia Clydesdale horses regularly seen at public events throughout the countryside.[citation needed]
The Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre (Te Whare Taonga O Ngaa Rohe o Arekahana)"Pirongia Heritage and Information Centre website".has displays and items of historical interest and is located on Franklin Street in the centre of the village.
The local Pūrekireki Marae is a meeting place for theNgāti ManiapotohapūofApakuraandHikairo,and theWaikato TainuihapūofApakura.[5]It includes the Marutehiakina meeting house.[6]
Demographics
editPirongia covers 3.27 km2(1.26 sq mi)[1]and had an estimated population of 1,420 as of June 2024,[2]with a population density of 434 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,047 | — |
| 2013 | 1,122 | +0.99% |
| 2018 | 1,224 | +1.76% |
| Source:[7] | ||
Pirongia had a population of 1,224 at the2018 New Zealand census,an increase of 102 people (9.1%) since the2013 census,and an increase of 177 people (16.9%) since the2006 census.There were 432 households, comprising 594 males and 633 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.94 males per female. The median age was 42.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 291 people (23.8%) aged under 15 years, 168 (13.7%) aged 15 to 29, 579 (47.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 186 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 91.9% European/Pākehā,14.0%Māori,1.2%Pacific peoples,1.0%Asian,and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 15.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.8% had no religion, 30.1% wereChristian,0.7% hadMāori religious beliefsand 1.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 195 (20.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 159 (17.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $35,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 189 people (20.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 474 (50.8%) people were employed full-time, 159 (17.0%) were part-time, and 24 (2.6%) were unemployed.[7]
Education
editPirongia School is a co-educational state primary school,[8][9]with a roll of 398 as of August 2024.[10]The school was founded in 1873.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ab"ArcGIS Web Application".statsnz.maps.arcgis.Retrieved24 October2022.
- ^ab"Aotearoa Data Explorer".Statistics New Zealand.Retrieved26 October2024.
- ^Kelly, Leslie G.(1931)."Matakitaki pā, Pirongia".The Journal of the Polynesian Society.40(157): 35–38.
- ^"PIRONGIA RAILWAY BOARD. WAIKATO TIMES".paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.9 November 1923.Retrieved30 December2020.
- ^"Māori Maps".maorimaps.Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^"Te Kāhui Māngai directory".tkm.govt.nz.Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ab"Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census".Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Pirongia (181900).2018 Census place summary: Pirongia
- ^"Official School Website".pirongia.school.nz.
- ^Education Counts: Pirongia School
- ^"Education Review Office Report".ero.govt.nz.Education Review Office.
- ^"About our school..."Pirongia School.Retrieved2 November2020.