Tuakau

Tuakau
Tuakau Memorial Hall
Coordinates:37°16′S174°57′E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
District	Waikato District
Ward	Awaroa ki Tuakau Ward
Community	Onewhero-Tuakau Community
Electorates	Port Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Government
• Territorial Authority	Waikato District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
Area
• Total	8.31 km2(3.21 sq mi)
Population (June 2023)
• Total	6,030
• Density	730/km2(1,900/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	2121

Tuakau(Māori:Tūākau) is atownin theWaikatoregion at the foot of theBombay Hills,formerly part of theFranklin Districtuntil 2010, when it became part ofWaikato Districtin theNorth Islandof New Zealand. The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees ofNew Zealand SteelatGlenbrook.

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 wordtūcan mean 'to stand' andākau'river bank'.

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

Alexandra Redoubt

A flax mill was built in 1855.

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.To help defend the area theAlexandra Redoubtwas 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 theTuakau Railway Stationwas 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. During its 44 years as a borough, Tuakau had seven mayors:

	Name	Term
1	E.A. Clayton	1955–1959
2	T.F. Hutchinson	1959–1961
3	A.H. Lockyer	1961–1962
4	G.A. McGuire	1962–1971
5	E.B. Wild	1971–1980
6	T.N. Tuhimata	1980–1983
7	H.B. Armitage	1983–1989

Amalgamations since 1989 has seen it first become part of theFranklin Districtgoverned 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 twomarae(Maori sacred or communal place), affiliated with thehapū(Maori sub-tribe or clan) ofWaikato Tainui(a tribal confederation based in the Waikato Region).Ngā Tai e Rua Maraeand itsNgā Tai e Ruameeting house are a meeting placeNgāti Āmaru,Ngāti KoherikiandNgāti Tiipa.Tauranganui Maraeand itsRangiwahitumeeting house are a meeting place forNgāti ĀmaruNgati Rangiwahitu, Ngati Kaiaua andNgāti Tiipa.

Bridges

Tuakau Bridge

1933 Tuakau Bridge

The town's 'Tuakau Bridge' replaced the need for a ferry from November 1902.A span of the original wooden bridgecollapsed on 23 August 1929and was replaced by the current £24,000 ($2.9m at 2015 prices),750 ft (230 m) bridge from 22 June 1933,designed by Jones & Adams,who also builtHorotiu(1921),Te Aroha(1926),Ngamuwahine River(1930) andFairfieldbridges (1937).It was once part ofState Highway 22.

Gas pipeline aerial crossing

About 3 km (1.9 mi) upstream from Tuakau Bridge, at the end of Brown Rd,the river is crossed by theFirst Gas400-line gas transmission pipe, which supplies gas from the Maui gas pipeline atRotowaroto Auckland and Northland.The 350 mm (14 in) pipe crosses on a 376 m (411 yd), 11 pier,truss bridge,14 m (46 ft) above the water, which was built in 1980 and renovated in 2007.

Demographics

Tuakau covers 8.31 km²(3.21 sq mi)and had an estimated population of 6,030 as of June 2023,with a population density of 726 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	3,609	—
2013	4,272	+2.44%
2018	5,013	+3.25%
Source:

Before the 2023 census, the urban area had a smaller boundary, covering 5.35 km²(2.07 sq mi).Using that boundary, Tuakau had a population of 5,013 at the2018 New Zealand census,an increase of 741 people (17.3%) since the2013 census,and an increase of 1,404 people (38.9%) since the2006 census.There were 1,632 households, comprising 2,457 males and 2,559 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 1,293 people (25.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,041 (20.8%) aged 15 to 29, 2,094 (41.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 582 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.1% European/Pākehā,32.6%Māori,8.4%Pacific peoples,8.5%Asian,and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.1% had no religion, 32.6% wereChristian,2.0% hadMāori religious beliefs,2.1% wereHindu,0.4% wereMuslim,0.7% wereBuddhistand 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 423 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 852 (22.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 546 people (14.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,019 (54.3%) people were employed full-time, 495 (13.3%) were part-time, and 177 (4.8%) were unemployed.

Individual statistical areas in 2018

Name	Area (km2)	Population	Density (per km2)	Households	Median age	Median income
Tuakau North	2.69	3,147	1,170	1,035	32.6 years	$34,100
Tuakau South	2.66	1,866	702	597	31.7 years	$30,200
New Zealand					37.4 years	$31,800

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, whereSir Edmund HillaryandHugh Polandwere educated.

It is a co-educational state primary school,with a roll of 253 as of February 2024.

Harrisville Schoolis located to the north, atHarrisville.

Tuakau College is the district's state secondary school,with a roll of 1,029.