Raetihi

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Location of Raetihi
Location of Raetihi

Raetihi is a town in the central North Island of New Zealand.[1] It is located at the junction of State Highways 4 and 49, 11 kilometres west of Ohakune. The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings recorded its population as 1,068. This constitutes a decrease of -8.2% or 99 people since the 1996 census.[2]

Contents

[edit] Railway and museum

From 18 December 1917 to 1 January 1968, Raetihi was served by the Raetihi Branch, a branch line railway that diverged from the North Island Main Trunk in Ohakune. The station building remains in the town today, relocated from its original site and restored as part of the Waimarino Museum.[3] The museum holds an archive of documents and photographs from the broader Ruapehu area, some of which are available online.[4]

[edit] History

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Although now a small rural town, Raetihi was a minor industrial centre between 1900 and the 1950s. It had numerous timber mills which provided the bulk of employment to the region. As the timber was cleared, agriculture became more prominent in the local economy. The two most prominent agricultural activities are cattle farming and vegetable growing and they now provide the bulk of employment as the timber mills have closed.

The decline of the timber industry negatively impacted upon Raetihi, but it has recently experienced some growth due to tourism. Its close proximity to Mount Ruapehu and popular skifields has led to the establishment of accommodation and cafes to cater for the increasing amount of visitors.

[edit] Timeline

  • 1900 - Raetihi is the largest centre of the King Country with almost 4,500 people.
  • 1903 - co-operative dairy company established.
  • 1917 - Railway branch line reaches Raetihi.
  • 1918, 18th March - The 'Great Fire' - about 200 houses were destroyed. [5]
  • 1918 - Influenza epidemic.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Land Information New Zealand, Geographic Placenames Database: Place Name Detail - Raetihi, accessed 29 October 2007.
  2. ^ Statistics New Zealand, "Raetihi Urban Area Community Profile", accessed 29 October 2007.
  3. ^ David Leitch and Brian Scott, Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways, revised edition (Wellington: Grantham House, 1998 [1995]), 27-30.
  4. ^ Waimarino Museum, Archival pictures and documents, accessed 29 October 2007.
  5. ^ Craig, Dick (1990). The King Country. Waitomo: Waitomo News, 136-137. 
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