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 near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3, or around the coast on SH 45, known as Surf Highway 45 for its numerous surf beaches. SH 45 passes through Manaia, Opunake and Oakura en route to to New Plymouth. Kaponga is a 20-minute drive to the north-west.
Hawera is Maori for burnt place, from fighting between two local sub-tribes, which culminated in the setting ablaze of the sleeping whare of the tribe under attack. The name became apt when the town suffered extensive blazes in 1884, 1888, and 1912. For this reason a large water tower was built in the centre of town, one of Taranaki's best-known landmarks. Hawera is also home to the largest dairy factory complex in the southern hemisphere, Whareroa, which has its own gas-fired powerplant> The complex is owned by Fonterra, formerly Kiwi.
Alan Brough, actor, comedian, and team leader from Spicks and Specks, and writer Ronald Hugh Morrieson, author of cult classics 'The Scarecrow' and 'Came a Hot Friday', 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 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki or Mount 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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