Ruapuke

For the island in southern New Zealand, see Ruapuke Island.
Ruapuke
Ruapuke
Coordinates: 37°53′32″S 174°41′52″E / 37.89222°S 174.69778°ECoordinates: 37°53′32″S 174°41′52″E / 37.89222°S 174.69778°E
Country New Zealand
Region Waikato
Territorial authority Waikato District
Population (2006)http://apps.nowwhere.com.au/StatsNZ/Maps/default.aspx
 • Total 66
Time zone NZST (UTC+12)
 • Summer (DST) NZDT (UTC+13)

Ruapuke is a small farming community (predominantly sheep and cattle farmers) in the Waikato region on the slopes of Karioi, between Raglan and Kawhia in New Zealand.

The photo on the right is of Ruapuke (to right) from Houchens Rd, Te Mata. On a fine winter's day (this was August 2010) Ruapuke residents can look over Aotea Harbour to a rugged and uninhabited coastline and, beyond, the snow-capped peak of Mt. Taranaki, 150 km away (right top – hard to distinguish from a cloud).

Population

It comprises a handful (meshblock 0861800 - Ruapuke had 66 people in 21 households with a median age of 34 in 2006)[1] of families, some of whom have lived there for many generations.[2]

Roads

Ruapuke is 10 km from Te Mata. 8 km of Ruapuke Road has been sealed and some bends removed, but is still windy. It is often used for rally car competitions.[3]

Ruapuke is 27 km from Raglan via Whaanga Road and Te Toto Gorge, which is gravel, winding, mountainous and described as 'iconic' in descriptions of Rally New Zealand.[4]

Ruapuke from Karioi summit.

Surfing

Until the 1990s the beach largely remained unknown, used by local residents and a few surfing and surfcasting fishing enthusiasts. International surfing competitions such as the Billabong (clothing) Pro and the Rip Curl Pro are now held at Ruapuke beach, providing conditions oblige.

References

  1. ↑ http://apps.nowwhere.com.au/StatsNZ/Maps/default.aspx
  2. ↑ Ruapuke: F J Trolove first printed 1970 lists 22 families living in Ruapuke in 1969, including chapters on Swann, Thomson, Jackson, Ward, Given and Trolove
  3. ↑ http://www.fiatcarclub.co.nz/index.php?s=ruapuke
  4. ↑ http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10724045

External links