Hunterville

Hunterville is a small community on State Highway 1, in the Rangitikei district of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located halfway between Taupo and Wellington and has a population (2013 census) of 429, a decrease of 15 people from 2006.[1]

For the community in the United States, see Hunterville, Missouri.
Not to be confused with Huntersville (disambiguation).

Hunterville
Monument paying tribute to Huntaway dogs at Hunterville
Hunterville
Coordinates: 39°56′S 175°34′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictRangitikei District
Population
 (2013)
 • Total429

The township was named for George Hunter, who was a member of the Wellington Provincial Council.[2] It straddles the state highway as well as the main trunk railway in the foothills forming the gateway to the Central Plateau.

Kiwiburn, the New Zealand Burning Man regional burn, has been held there since 2014.

The closest airport or airfield to Hunterville is RNZAF Base Ohakea, an important Royal New Zealand Air Force base, which is sited 33 km to the south west. 6 km north of Hunterville is Vinegar Hill.

The Hunterville railway station on the North Island Main Trunk line opened in 1887 and closed in 1988.

Hunterville is well known for its statue of the huntaway, a specialised herding dog that uses its voice to drive the sheep. The town festival and market held on the first Saturday after Labour Day has a "Shepherds Shemozzle" - a race with man and dog with shepherds travelling from all over New Zealand to compete for the top prize.[3]

Hunterville has marae, affiliated with Ngāti Hauiti hapū. Otāhuhu Marae and Te Ruku a Te Kawau meeting house is a meeting place for Ngāti Haukaha. Rātā or Te Hou Hou or Potaka Marae and Hauiti meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Ruaanga and Ngāti Tamateraka.[4][5]

Education

Hunterville Consolidated School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[6][7] with a roll of 155 as of March 2020.[8]

Notable people
  • William Meldrum (1865–1964), solicitor in Hunterville and chairman of the Hunterville Town Board prior to WWI[9]
  • Hadleigh Parkes (1987 - ), professional Rugby Player, played for Super Rugby teams, Blues (Captain), Kings, and Hurricanes. Plays for Welsh regional team Scarlets (2014 - ) and was selected for the Welsh Test team in 2017.

References
  1. 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Hunterville
  2. Discover New Zealand - A Wises Guide (9 ed.). Wises Publications Limited. 1994. p. 230.
  3. "Hunterville's 'Shepherds' Shemozzle'". Radio.co.nz. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  4. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  5. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  6. "Official School Website". hunterville.school.nz.
  7. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  8. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  9. Grover, Ray. "William Meldrum". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 1 December 2011.


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