Hawera
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With a population of 11,000 Hawera is the second largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3, or around the coast on Highway 45 (known as Surf Highway 45 for its numerous Surf Beaches). Travelling along state Highway 45 you will travel through Manaia, Opunake and Oakura before getting to New Plymouth. Also Kaponga is a 20min drive in a NW direction.
The town's name of Hawera (Maori for burnt place) is apt, as the town suffered extensive blazes in 1884, 1888, and 1912. For this reason a large water tower was built in the centre of town, and it is now one of Taranaki's best-known landmarks. However, the name comes from fighting that existed between two local sub-tribes which culminated in the setting ablaze to the sleeping whare of the tribe under attack. Hawera is also home to the largest dairy factory complex in the southern hemisphere, Whareroa, which now has its own gas-fired powerplant, Fonterra once called Kiwi.
Actor, comedian, and team leader from Spicks and Specks, Alan Brough was born in Hawera. The writer Ronald Hugh Morrieson, author of cult classics 'The Scarecrow' and 'Came a Hot Friday' also came from Hawera. Numerous sporting 'celebrities' also have their roots in Hawera, including Silver Ferns Captain Adine Wilson and All Black Conrad Smith.
Hawera is only 20 minutes drive from Mount Taranaki or Egmont. Hawera is also home to Tawhiti Museum, well-known for its hand-crafted life-sized wax sculptures depicting scenes of local heritage and history, and its scale-models of local Maori Pa (fotresses).
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