Ngaere

Ngaere
Map
Interactive map of Ngaere
Coordinates: 39°23′25″S174°17′58″E / 39.39028°S 174.29944°E / -39.39028; 174.29944
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
DistrictStratford District
Ward
  • Stratford Rural General Ward
  • Stratford Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityStratford District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of StratfordNeil Volzke[1]
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]

Ngaere is a village situated on State Highway 3, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Stratford, New Zealand.[4][5] The name "Ngaere" means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland. Until 1966, Ngaere also had a railway station.

Demographics

Ngaere locality covers 37.62 km2 (14.53 sq mi).[6] The locality is partly in the Pembroke statistical area and partly in the Toko statistical area.[7]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006249—    
2013219−1.82%
2018243+2.10%
2023234−0.75%
Source: [8][9]

Ngaere had a population of 234 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−3.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 15 people (6.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 108 males, 123 females, and 3 people of other genders in 90 dwellings.[10] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 39 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 48 (20.5%) aged 15 to 29, 120 (51.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (10.3%) aged 65 or older.[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.9% European (Pākehā), 16.7% Māori, and 7.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.7%, Māori by 3.8%, and other languages by 6.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 5.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]

Religious affiliations were 25.6% Christian, 1.3% Buddhist, and 2.6% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.4%, and 6.4% of people did not answer the census question.[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (9.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 123 (63.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 48 (24.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 21 people (10.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 111 (56.9%) full-time, 33 (16.9%) part-time, and 3 (1.5%) unemployed.[8]

Attractions

Ngaere Dairy Factory

Ngaere Gardens, which once hosted a menagerie of exotic animals, was a popular picnic spot for early 20th century families. Several attempts at resurrecting the gardens have been to no avail. The gardens have now been cleared, and all that remains now is the large lake, and a number of mature exotic trees.

Another well-known landmark is the Ngaere dairy factory, founded in 1914. It produced its own brand of cheese called "Triumph". The Ngaere factory closed in 1973, after the Ngaere dairy cooperative merged into the Taranaki dairy cooperative.[11] Since its closure, the factory has been put to many uses - as a clothing factory, an indoor cricket arena, a rave dance hall, and currently a saw mill.

Ngaere had a service station, which closed in the 1990s. The building has been put to a variety of uses, including as a brewery and a health shop. It is currently a motorcycle repair shop. "Fred's Place" is well known for its antiques.

Local Legends

Maori legend says that the Ngaere swamp was formed when Mt. Taranaki stopped and wept on its journey to its current resting place. Most of the swamp was drained in the early 20th century for dairy farming.

Name

It has been speculated that Ngaere, which until 1934 was also spelt Ngaire,[12] is the origin of the name Ngaire, a common girl's name in New Zealand.

Education

Ngaere School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 149 as of October 2025.[13][14] The school was founded in 1882.[15]

Notes

  1. ^"Election Results". Stratford District Council. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. ^"Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ^"Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 34. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  5. ^Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 85. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  6. ^"Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. ^"Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  8. ^ abcde"Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017316 and 7017321. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^"Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017316 and 7017321.
  10. ^"Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^"Taranaki Dairy Factories - Taranaki Dairy Factories - Kete New Plymouth". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  12. ^"Ngaire". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  13. ^"New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  14. ^"Ngaere School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  15. ^"Ngaere School and Districts 125th Jubilee". Education Gazette New Zealand. 85 (16). 18 September 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008.

Further reading

General historical works

  • Carncross, Claude (1957). Ngaere School, 1882-1957: souvenir booklet: a history of the school and district. Ngaere, [N.Z.]; Eltham, [N.Z.]: 75th Jubilee Committee; Eltham Argus.
  • Robinson, Alison (1982). The Ngaere story. Ngaere, [N.Z.]; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Ngaere Centennial Committee; Taranaki Newspapers.
  • Robinson, Alison (1992). Finnerty Road School and the Lowgarth district. Lowgarth, [N.Z.]: Finnerty Road School 75th Jubilee Committee.

Business history

  • Slightly related to the above (in that it involves a sawmill) are the dissenting letters from residents of Cheal and Windsor Roads to the a train operated by Inglewood businessman Henry Brown and the local Ngaire Sawmills. The letters date from 1897. See "Stratford County Council (ARC2003-853)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  • Ngaire (Ngaere) Co-operative Dairy Factory Co., Ltd. (1953). Triumph, Ngaire (Ngaere) Co-operative Dairy Factory Co., Ltd., 1893-1953, cheese. Eltham, [N.Z.]: Eltham Argus.

People

  • Betteridge, Cyril (1999). From bondage to liberty: a collection of stories, gathered and bound into a single volume, which portray the heroism of the Pioneers in relation to the Johnson and Betteridge clans. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Cyril Betteridge.
  • The oral historian Alison Robinson interviewed Bruce and Jenny Clarke in 1992. They talk about their farm, Jenny's experience as a teacher (at Finnerty Road School), and the district in general. The interview is held within "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth. See "(ARC2002-390)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  • The oral historian Alison Robinson interviewed Alf Willan in 1992. He talks about the district, Lowgarth, and the Lowgarth dairy co-operative (which later merged with the Ngaere Co-operative Dairy Company) The interview is held within "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth. See "Willan, Alf. S. (ARC2002-377)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.

Schools

  • Carncross, Claude (1957). Ngaere School, 1882-1957: souvenir booklet: a history of the school and district. Ngaere, [N.Z.]; Eltham, [N.Z.]: 75th Jubilee Committee; Eltham Argus.
  • Robinson, Alison (1992). Finnerty Road School and the Lowgarth district. Lowgarth, [N.Z.]: Finnerty Road School 75th Jubilee Committee.
  • The oral historian Alison Robinson interviewed Jenny Clarke in 1992. Jenny talks about her experience as a teacher (at Finnerty Road School). The interview is held within "Puke Ariki". Archived from the original on 20 June 2008. in New Plymouth. See "(ARC2002-390)". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.

39°23′S174°18′E / 39.383°S 174.300°E / -39.383; 174.300

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