Te Kuiti
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[edit] Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 70 km south of Hamilton.
As of the 2001 census it had a resident population of 4,374, a decrease of 5.1% since 1991. The town promotes itself as the sheep shearing capital of the world and is host to the annual New Zealand National Shearing Championships
[edit] Sheep
On April 1 2006 the largest sheep show in the world took place here, with more than 2000 sheep. Ref. Television NZ News.
[edit] Location
Te Kuiti is approximately 80 km south of Hamilton and 19 km south-east of Waitomo. The area around Te Kuiti, commonly known as the King Country, gives its name to the NPC rugby team based in Te Kuiti.
[edit] History
Te Kuiti is the Maori name given to the area. In its original form of "Te Kuititanga", it literally means "the valley", "the squeezing in" or "the narrowing". [1]
[edit] Tourism
The "Shearing Capital of the World" contains the world's largest shearer, seven metres high. The carved Te Tokanganui-A-Noho Meeting House was gifted to the local Maori people (Ngati Maniapoto) by Te Kooti, a famous Maori leader.
[edit] Geology
Limestone deposits and water have created the Waitomo Caves, northwest of the town, one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist locations.
[edit] Te Kuiti Notables
- All Black great Colin Meads calls Te Kuiti home.
- World Champion Sheep Shearer David Fagan
- Author Ruth Park grew up here.
- Former Prime Minister of New Zealand Jim Bolger held the local electorate of King Country.
- Bessie Moss (nee Croall) was born (1920) and married (1937) here.
- Tony Martin, Australian-based comedian and author, was born here
[edit] External links
 The Overlander passenger train stops: (North Island Main Trunk Railway) |
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| Auckland (Britomart) | Middlemore | Papakura | Pukekohe | Hamilton | Otorohanga | Te Kuiti | Taumarunui | National Park | Ohakune | Marton | Feilding | Palmerston North | Levin | Paraparaumu | Porirua | Wellington (Railway Station) | |
