| Ruatapu | |
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Ruatapu
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | West Coast |
| District | Westland District |
Ruatapu is the name of a small town in the Westland District of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Its name comes from a figure in Māori tradition named Ruatapu. The town is located to the west of Lake Mahinapua and is 12km southwest of Hokitika and 14km northeast of Ross. State Highway 6 runs through the town. It was established to support farming and sawmilling activity in the area.
On 9 November 1906, a branch line railway from the Midland Line in Greymouth to Hokitika was extended to Ruatapu. Ruatapu acted as the terminus of the railway until 1 April 1909, when it was opened to Ross and became known as the Ross Branch. Passenger services ceased on 9 October 1972 and the line closed to all traffic on 24 November 1980. Some of the formation near Ruatapu can now be driven.