Te Rapa

Te Rapa
City: Hamilton, New Zealand
Island North Island
Surrounded by:
To the north: rural
To the north-east: Pukete
To the east: Saint Andrews, Waikato
To the south-east: Beerescourt
To the south/south-west: Forest Lake
To the west: Frankton, Waikato
To the north-west: rural

Te Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of central Hamilton, New Zealand that is built on a flat area that was previously the bed of an ancient river,the forerunner to the present Waikato River.

Stretching in a long, thin north-south axis, Te Rapa is home to a large number of factories including Te Rapa Dairy Factory, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

The suburb is the site of a number of important railway linkages in the New Zealand railway network, mainly the North Island Main Trunk Railway and East Coast Main Trunk Railway. The suburb is the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk electrification, a large locomotive depot and formerly a large marshalling yard. The suburb contains a Video Ezy that until 2014 was the last known venue that still allowed original Sony PlayStation game rentals in the Waikato region.

Education

Te Rapa Primary School has been the local primary school since 1906.[1]

The Base

Before being given by the government to the Tainui tribe in a Raupatu land settlement in 1995, Te Rapa was also the site of a Royal New Zealand Air Force base. The Te Rapa Airforce Base was perhaps unique among New Zealand air force bases in that it did not include a runway - being a base for helicopters. The Te Rapa Airforce Base closed in 1992.

Te Rapa's shopping area includes The Base, a large scale retail development that opened in 2005, at the site of the former air force base. As of 2006, The Base contained the largest branch of The Warehouse in New Zealand. With the addition of the Te Awa building in 2010, The Base became New Zealand's largest shopping mall, and still is, as of December 2011.

Te Rapa Racecourse

Located in Te Rapa is Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton's only remaining horse racing course, and the main race course for the Waikato region. The Te Rapa Racecourse has a symmetrical left-handed track with a circumference of 1788 metres. Facilities and hospitalities include a members facility and private suites.[2]

Waterworld

In 1981, this plaque was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II at the Centennial Pools.

Waterworld (also known as Te Rapa Pools) is a Hamilton city council-owned pool complex in Te Rapa. In addition to the main facilities, the venue also includes a range of other options including a spa, sauna and steam rooms as well as an outdoor playground. Rides offered at Waterworld include The Python Hydroslide, the Twister Slide and The Screamer Speedslides.[3] The complex was officially opened in late 1976, 15 years after Hamilton Jaycees suggested a new swimming pool complex in Fairfield Park. The suggestion led to an adopted proposal in 1964 to mark the city's centennial and in 1973 the decision was made to instead build the complex in Te Rapa.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Te Rapa Primary School Website
  2. ↑ NZ Racing Retrieved December 2011]
  3. ↑ Hamilton Pools - Facilities Retrieved December 2011
  4. ↑ "Hamilton Suburbs I Te Rapa Information Kit". Waikato Times (Hamilton Public Library). 14 October 1976.

External links

Coordinates: 37°45′28.16″S 175°14′45.17″E / 37.7578222°S 175.2458806°E