![Ruapuke_Papanui_Pt_and_Swann_Access_Rd_carpark](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Ruapuke_Papanui_Pt_and_Swann_Access_Rd_carpark.jpg)
Ruapuke is a small
farming
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
community (predominantly sheep and cattle farmers) in the
Waikato
Waikato () is a Regions of New Zealand, local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton City ...
region on the slopes of
Karioi
Karioi or Mount Karioi is a 2.4 million year old extinct stratovolcano SW of Raglan in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It was the earliest of the line of 6 calcalkalic volcanoes, the largest of which is Mount Pirongia (the oth ...
, between
Raglan and
Kawhia
Kawhia Harbour (Maori: ''Kāwhia'') is one of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located to the south of Raglan Harbour, Ruapuke and Aotea Harbour, 40 kilometres southwe ...
in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
.
History
The introduction to 'Ruapuke' says, "The greater part of the Ruapuke District is of a sandy loam, and at one time carried a large population of Maoris, as is evidenced by old
pas, great heaps of shells, warehouse sites and numerous
kumara storage pits. When the first Europeans arrived the sandy country was covered with patches of light bush, with a big proportion of
Karaka,
Puriri
''Vitex lucens'', or pūriri, is an evergreen tree endemic to New Zealand.
History
Pūriri was first collected (by Europeans) at Tolaga Bay by Banks and Solander during Cook's first visit in 1769. The plant was excellently described by Solan ...
, and
Cabbage trees
Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of ''Brassica oleracea'', is a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage ( ''B.&nbs ...
. The balance was covered with
Tauhinu,
Teatree, Flax and Fern. The clay portion of the district, (inland and on the slopes of Mt Karioi) was in heavy bush."
[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] The archaeological map shows over 40 sites in the area. The European settlers, George Charlton and his sons-in-law, Captains Swann and Liddell, arrived in the 1850s.
The Ruapuke block was bought by the government from Ngāti Whakamarurangi between 1854 and 1856 for £300. A
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal (Māori: ''Te Rōpū Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi'') is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975. It is charged with investigating and making recommendations on cla ...
report says, "''
McLean
MacLean, also spelt Maclean and McLean, is a Goidelic languages, Gaelic surname Mac Gille Eathain, or, Mac Giolla Eóin in Irish language, Irish Gaelic), Eóin being a Gaelic form of Johannes (John (given name), John). The clan surname is an A ...
appears to have applied pressure on Māori sellers to induce them to accept a price they had previously rejected . . . We find that, in this way, the Crown failed to act honourably and in good faith''".
Ruapuke had a school from 1877 till 1954.
The school was rebuilt in 1937. It has been replaced by a school bus.
![Papanui_Point](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Papanui_Point.jpg)
There was a store at Motakotako from the 1860s. From about 1875 to 1883 it was run by
John William Ellis
John William Ellis (1853 – 6 August 1918) was a New Zealand businessman and mayor of Hamilton from 1917 to 1918.
His progressive mother encouraged him to integrate with local Māori from an early age, which later facilitated his trading on the ...
, who later founded
Ellis & Burnand. Another store opened briefly in the 1890s.
From 1873 until the 1900s there were up to three
flaxmills running.
Demographics
![Ruapuke from Karioi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Ruapuke_from_Karioi.JPG)
The area north of Ruapuke Beach Rd is in
meshblock
Mesh blocks or meshblocks are a small geographic unit used in the census of several countries.
New Zealand
New Zealand's countrywide meshblock framework was first set up in 1976, although the term dates back to at least the 1916 census. The me ...
0853300 (N) and south of it in 0861800 (S). They had these census figures -
Roads
Ruapuke is about from Te Mata. of Ruapuke Road was
sealed
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...
and some bends removed in 2011. It is often used for rally car competitions.
The north end of Ruapuke Beach is about from Raglan via Whaanga Road and
Te Toto Gorge, which is
gravel
Gravel is a loose aggregation of rock fragments. Gravel occurs naturally throughout the world as a result of sedimentary and erosive geologic processes; it is also produced in large quantities commercially as crushed stone.
Gravel is classifi ...
, winding, mountainous and described as 'iconic' in descriptions of
Rally New Zealand
The Rally New Zealand is an annual rally race in New Zealand. It was first included as a round of the World Rally Championship in 1977. The race is famous for its fast flowing gravel roads which carry the competitors through forests and alongside ...
.
Roading History
![Ruapuke Beach from south](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Ruapuke_Beach_from_south.JPG)
Until 1864 settlement was along the coast and relied on access by boat. Then a track was cut along what is now Waimaori Rd.
Ruapuke Rd (originally known as Ruapuke Mountain Rd) was built as a shorter route from 1902 and was
metalled
A road surface (British English), or pavement (American English), is the durable surface material laid down on an area intended to sustain vehicular or foot traffic, such as a road or walkway. In the past, gravel road surfaces, hoggin, cobble ...
in 1935.
Surfing
Until the 1990s the beach largely remained unknown, used by local residents and a few
surfing
Surfing is a surface water sport in which an individual, a surfer (or two in tandem surfing), uses a board to ride on the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually carries the surfer towards the shore. Waves suitabl ...
and
surfcasting
Surf fishing is land-based game fishing while standing on the shoreline or wading into the surf zone. A general term, surf fishing may or may not include casting a lure or bait, and refers to all types of shore fishing – from sandy and rocky be ...
fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
enthusiasts. International surfing competitions such as the
Billabong (clothing)
Billabong International Limited is an Australian company focused on surfing, primarily a clothing retailer that also produces accessories, such as watches and backpacks, and skateboard and snowboard products under other brand names. Founded in ...
Pro and the
Rip Curl
Rip Curl is a designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear (also known as ''boardwear'') and accompanying products, and a major athletic sponsor. Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia, Europe, Sou ...
Pro are now held at Ruapuke beach, providing conditions oblige.
References
External links
BBC Profile{{Geographic Location, title=Neighbouring areas, Northwest=, North=
Raglan, Northeast=''
Karioi
Karioi or Mount Karioi is a 2.4 million year old extinct stratovolcano SW of Raglan in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It was the earliest of the line of 6 calcalkalic volcanoes, the largest of which is Mount Pirongia (the oth ...
'', West=''
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea (Māori: ''Te Tai-o-Rēhua'', ) is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, situated between Australia and New Zealand. It measures about across and about from north to south. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abe ...
'', Centre=Ruapuke, East=
Te Mata, South=''
Aotea Harbour
Aotea Harbour ( mi, Aotea Moana) is a settlement and smallest of three large natural inlets in the Tasman Sea coast of the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located between Raglan Harbour to the north and Kawhia Harbour to the ...
'', Southeast=''
Pakoka River
The Pakoka River is a river of the Waikato Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows southwest from its source southeast of Raglan to reach the northeastern end of the Aotea Harbour. The catchment is made up of just over of waterways.
...
''
Populated places in Waikato
Waikato District