Putāruru

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Town in Waikato, New Zealand

title: "Putāruru" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-waikato", "south-waikato-district"] description: "Town in Waikato, New Zealand" topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-waikato" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putāruru" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in Waikato, New Zealand ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Putāruru
native_name
native_name_lang
settlement_type	Town
total_type
image_skyline	Church at Putaruru Museum.jpg
image_caption	Church at the Timber Museum
mapframe	yes
mapframe-zoom	9
pushpin_label_position
pushpin_map_caption	Location in New Zealand
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	New Zealand
subdivision_type1	Region
subdivision_name1	Waikato Region
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	South Waikato District
subdivision_type3	Ward
subdivision_name3	Putāruru Ward
leader_title	Territorial Authority
leader_name	South Waikato District Council
leader_title1	Regional council
leader_name1	Waikato Regional Council
leader_title2	Mayor of South Waikato
leader_name2
leader_title3	Taupō MP
leader_name3
leader_title4	Te Tai Hauāuru MP
leader_name4
seat_type	Electorates
seat
established_title
established_title1
established_title2
elevation_footnotes	tags--
area_footnotes
area_total_km2	6.81
population_as_of
population_footnotes
population_total
population_density_km2	auto
timezone	NZST
utc_offset	+12
timezone_DST	NZDT
utc_offset_DST	+13
coor_pinpoint
coordinates
postal_code_type	Postcode(s)
postal_code	3411
::

Putāruru is a small town in the South Waikato District and the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It lies on the western side of the Mamaku Ranges and in the upper basin of the Waihou River. It is on the Oraka Stream 65 kilometres south-east of Hamilton. State Highway 1 and the Kinleith Branch railway run through the town.

Name

The town gets its name from a historic event which occurred nearby. Korekore a granddaughter of Raukawa, the founder of the Ngāti Raukawa iwi, was murdered by her husband Parahore. Her servant Ruru witnessed her murder and escaped into the forest where he hid and waited for Parahore and his men to give up their pursuit of him. The place where he exited the forest was named "Te Puta a Ruru" or "the exit of Ruru". This was eventually shorted to Putāruru.

History and culture

Pre-colonial history

There were several Māori settlements in the Putāruru district in pre-colonial times. Ngāti Raukawa is the main tribe or iwi in the area and Ngāti Mahana is the hapū (subtribe) within Putāruru. During Te Rauparaha's migration to the Cook Strait area in the 1820s, many Ngāti Raukawa people moved from these settlements to Rangitikei and Manawatu localities, and others followed after the Siege of Ōrākau in 1864. Te Kooti and his followers were pursued through the district early in 1870 by a force under Lt-Col. Thomas McDonnell.

European settlement

The Patetere Block, containing the future town site of Putāruru, was acquired from the Māori in the 1860s. In the early 1880s large areas in the Putāruru district came into the possession of the Patetere Land Company, and from 1883 much of this land passed into the hands of the Thames Valley Land Company. Roadmaking commenced in the late 1880s, but the railway, begun by the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Co., was the most important factor in the progress of settlement in the area.

The first settler in the district bought his section in 1892.

In the 1880s Putāruru consisted of little more than a hotel and a blacksmith shop.

Exotic afforestation was begun in the district some time after 1910 by a land and timber company with an outlet to the Hamilton-Rotorua railway near Pinedale. Commercial tree planting with Pinus radiata took place between 1924 and 1928 on the Pinedale Block. Milling began in 1940–41 and by 1951 the area had been cut out and replanted. Larger areas further south were planted in 1924 for future milling and to provide the raw material for pulp and paper manufacture. The town of Putāruru was surveyed in 1905 and on 18 December an area of 50,987 acres (206 km2), which had been acquired from the Thames Valley Land Co. by the Crown and included town allotments in Putāruru and Lichfield, was opened by ballot.

The history of the local timber industry is preserved in the New Zealand Timber Museum.

Much of the land in the Putāruru district suffered from a cobalt deficiency, which made farming practically impossible, but since 1935 measures have been taken to restore fertility, and farming has expanded. Putāruru was created a town district in 1926, and on 1 July 1947 it was constituted a borough.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Putaruru_Railway_Station_and_railway_yards,_1923._ATLIB_293628.png" caption="Putāruru Railway Station and railway yards, 1923."] ::

Marae

The Putāruru area has two marae, affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Raukawa:

Mangakāretu Marae and Ngā Hau e Maha meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Ahuru
Whakaaratamaiti Marae and Korōria meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Ahuru and Ngāti Mahana

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,259,392 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Mangakāretu Marae, Whakaaratamaiti Marae and 6 other Ngāti Raukawa marae, creating 18 jobs.

Bent St. Skate Park

One of Putaruru’s most prominent features is it historical skate-bowl park. It was built in the 1980s, as one of the first skate parks in the country, and was recently chosen for a major refurbishment project. This community-led project is set to receive $550,000 from the South Waikato District Council in order to facilitate its upgrade. Intended upgrades include additional skating features, court area, and seating area.

Demographics

Stats NZ describes Putāruru as a small urban area, which covers 6.81 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Putāruru had a population of 4,455 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 141 people (3.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 510 people (12.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,151 males, 2,295 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,692 dwellings. 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 888 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 729 (16.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,764 (39.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,074 (24.1%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 74.0% European (Pākehā); 37.2% Māori; 3.8% Pasifika; 4.8% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 9.4%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 5.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 29.8% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 3.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.7%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 342 (9.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,941 (54.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,284 (36.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 156 people (4.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,416 (39.7%) full-time, 432 (12.1%) part-time, and 156 (4.4%) unemployed.

Rural surrounds

Putāruru Rural statistical area, which includes Arapuni, Waotu and Lichfield, covers 555.80 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Putāruru Rural had a population of 2,538 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 165 people (7.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 315 people (14.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,287 males, 1,242 females, and 6 people of other genders in 930 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 603 people (23.8%) aged under 15 years, 399 (15.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,176 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 363 (14.3%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.6% European (Pākehā); 19.7% Māori; 2.2% Pasifika; 4.3% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.8%, Māori by 4.6%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 6.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 30.4% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.3%, and 10.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 318 (16.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,176 (60.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 444 (22.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $47,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 198 people (10.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,125 (58.1%) full-time, 267 (13.8%) part-time, and 33 (1.7%) unemployed.

Economy

Putāruru's economy is based on farming, forestry and timber production.

The nearby Blue Spring is the current source of about 70% of New Zealand's bottled water. Much of the town's water comes from the spring, which is on the Waihou River to the north east.

Railways

New Zealand Railways Rotorua Branch

Main article: Rotorua Branch

Construction of the Rotorua Branch line was started by the New Zealand Thames Valley Land Company (NZTVLC). The line reached Oxford (Tīrau) on 8 March 1886 and Putāruru and Lichfield, 8.22 km further south-east, on Monday 21 June 1886.

The New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) took over the line on 1 April 1886.

The 11.8 km Putāruru-Ngātira section of the line to Rotorua was built by contractor Daniel Fallon, and work was underway by April 1887.

The branch opened on 8 December 1894. Putāruru was then served by the Rotorua Express.

Taupo Totara Timber Company Railway

Main article: Taupo Totara Timber Railway

In the early 1900s the Taupo Totara Timber Company (TTT) acquired bush blocks north and north-west of Lake Taupō and erected a sawmill at Mokai. The company built a 51 mi railway between Mokai and Putāruru, where it connected with the NZ Government Railway. The TTT railway opened in 1905 as a private carrier, carrying TTT staff and their families, guests, freight, and mail between Putāruru and Mokai.

From January 29, 1908, the TTT Railway opened its freight and passenger services to the public.

New Zealand Railways Kinleith Branch

Main article: Kinleith Branch

The NZ Government purchased a 19 mi section of the TTT Railway, from Putāruru to the "19-Mile Peg", near the present-day location of the Kinleith Paper Mill south of Tokoroa. From Tuesday, 10 June 1947, the NZ Government took over the operation of this part of the TTT line.

This section of railway was reconstructed under a NZ Government scheme for development of the Waikato River basin and surrounding areas. The project was completed on 6 October 1952.

Putāruru Railway Station

Putāruru railway station was near the junction of Arapuni and Princes Streets, 0.61 km north of the junction of the Kinleith Branch with the former Rotorua Branch.

In August 1886 the station had a 14 ft by 8 ft shelter shed, three cottages, a 30 ft by 40 ft goods shed and an incomplete station master's house.

Putāruru was still a flag station in 1890, when the daily train took about 3 hours to cover the 88.03 km between Putāruru and Frankton (Hamilton).

About the time of the Rotorua Branch's completion, the station was rebuilt and extended to about 64 ft long. It had a refreshment room and a bookstall and, from 1907, the railway yard had a 50 ft turntable and handled much livestock, as well as timber. The refreshment room, run by the hotel until 1919, burnt down in 1925 and was replaced by a room to the south of the main building, which closed in 1968.

Putāruru railway station closed to passengers on 12 November 1968 and freight on 10 December 2002, though it was served by the Geyserland Express from 1991 to 2001. The station was demolished during March and April 2013. Only a signals equipment shelter and a passing loop now remain on the station site.

Taumangi railway station

Taumangi (or Taumanga) was a flag station 3.7 km north of Putāruru and 5.79 km south of Tīrau. It was just south of Taumangi Road. In 1923 Taumangi Road was diverted north, when a bridge replaced the former level crossing.

Taumangi opened on the same day as Putāruru, 8 March 1886. By August 1886 there was a 14 ft by 8 ft shelter shed and two cottages and by 1896 there was also a platform and cart approach. In 1925 it was noted that inwards traffic was of timber, shingle, gravel, coal, 13 loads of manure, a wagon of lime, hardware and small goods. The public siding closed on 8 September 1941, as it was in a poor condition, but the station remained open for passengers until 22 November 1948, and for parcels, and roadside traffic until 30 July 1951. There is now only a single line through the station site.

Climate

|metric first=y |single line=y |location = Putāruru (1951–1980) | Jan high C = 22.9 | Feb high C = 23.6 | Mar high C = 21.8 | Apr high C = 18.8 | May high C = 15.4 | Jun high C = 12.9 | Jul high C = 12.4 | Aug high C = 13.6 | Sep high C = 15.1 | Oct high C = 16.9 | Nov high C = 18.8 | Dec high C = 21.0 | year high C = | Jan mean C = 17.2 | Feb mean C = 17.8 | Mar mean C = 16.3 | Apr mean C = 13.4 | May mean C = 10.6 | Jun mean C = 8.3 | Jul mean C = 7.6 | Aug mean C = 8.7 | Sep mean C = 10.3 | Oct mean C = 12.1 | Nov mean C = 13.7 | Dec mean C = 15.9 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 11.5 | Feb low C = 11.9 | Mar low C = 10.7 | Apr low C = 7.9 | May low C = 5.7 | Jun low C = 3.6 | Jul low C = 2.7 | Aug low C = 3.8 | Sep low C = 5.5 | Oct low C = 7.2 | Nov low C = 8.6 | Dec low C = 10.7 | year low C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 82 |Feb rain mm = 95 |Mar rain mm = 90 |Apr rain mm = 106 |May rain mm = 126 |Jun rain mm = 137 |Jul rain mm = 141 |Aug rain mm = 128 |Sep rain mm = 116 |Oct rain mm = 112 |Nov rain mm = 118 |Dec rain mm = 115 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA{{cite web |url = https://data.niwa.co.nz/ |title = NIWA Datahub (Agent number: 2200) |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 20 Nov 2024}}

Education

Putāruru Primary School is a state primary school on the main street, with a roll of . The school opened in 1906.

Putāruru College is a state secondary school at the northern entrance of the town, by the Oraka River, with a roll of . It opened as Putaruru High School in 1929, and adopted its current name on merging with Putaruru Intermediate in 2003.

Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Pātetere is a Māori medium composite school, with a roll of . It opened in 2006.

St Mary's Catholic School is a state-integrated primary school, with a roll of . The school opened in 1944.

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of

Notable people

Grant Fox (born 1962), former All Black
Honey Hireme (born 1981), former New Zealand rugby player
Glen Mitchell (born 1972), Olympic cyclist
Lorraine Moller (born 1955), Olympic athlete
Gareth Morgan (born 1953), economist, philanthropist
Jennifer Robyn (Jenny) Shattock, former South Waikato mayor
Wayne Smith (born 1957), former All Black and former All Black coach

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