Rototuna

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Suburb of Hamilton, New Zealand

title: "Rototuna" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["suburbs-of-hamilton,-new-zealand"] description: "Suburb of Hamilton, New Zealand" topic_path: "geography/new-zealand" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rototuna" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Suburb of Hamilton, New Zealand ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox New Zealand suburbs"]

FieldValue
nameRototuna
imageRototunaHamilton.JPG
caption1Thomas Road, Rototuna
coordinates
mapframey
mapframe-zoom13
city1Hamilton
wardEast Ward
councilHamilton City Council
arearef
area600
population
popdate
popref
population_density_km2auto
postcode3210
::

| name = Rototuna | image = RototunaHamilton.JPG | caption1 = Thomas Road, Rototuna | coordinates = | mapframe = y | mapframe-zoom = 13 | location_map = | city1 = Hamilton | ward = East Ward | council = Hamilton City Council | board = | sub_board = | established = | arearef = | area = 600 | population = | popdate = | popref = | population_density_km2 = auto | postcode = 3210 | trainstations = | railwaystations = | ferryterminals = | airports = | hospitals = | centre = Rototuna | north = Horsham Downs | northeast = Gordonton | east = St James Park | southeast =Huntington | south = Chartwell | southwest = Harrowfield | west = Flagstaff | northwest = Magellan Rise

Rototuna is a suburb in northern Hamilton, New Zealand, east of Flagstaff. It is one of the newest and fastest-growing suburbs in Hamilton, along with neighbouring Huntington and Flagstaff. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Rototuna_and_Hampton_Downs_1865.jpg" caption="1865 Plan of the Military settlements in the Upper Waikato District showing Lake Tunawhakapeka. Rototuna is to the south"] ::

Sometimes the name Rototuna is used to collectively refer to all of the city north of Wairere Drive and east of the Waikato River, including Flagstaff, St Petersburg, Magellan Rise, Ashmore, Somerset Heights, St James, Callum Brae and Huntington.

Although many Hamilton City publications say it was built on what was previously the bed of an ancient lake of which Rototuna was a tiny remnant, Lake Tunawhakapeka was to the north in Horsham Downs. However, its alternative name of Lake Rototuna, was the inspiration for the name given to a new post office in 1907 and later adopted for the area. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "eel lake" for Rototuna.

History

Carbon dating of 1550 to 1625 was put on charcoal from a cultivation ground, which was uncovered on the corner of Hukanui Road and Wairere Drive in 1999.

Until around 1915 Rototuna Lake was described as "an ornament", but by 1919 it had been largely drained. It lay to the north of Rototuna, in Horsham Downs. Further drainage was done in 1926 and the lake bed was given to surrounding farms in 1928. It remained as Lake E, more recently given its original name of Lake Tunawhakapeka, where the peat deposits date back over 17,000 years. Like most of Waikato it would have been inundated by a flood of water and ignimbrite debris from Lake Taupo about 22,000 years ago. The remaining lake is a metre deep and covers 6.7 ha. Lake Tunawhakapeka is said to have been 600 acre.

Like most of western Waikato the land at Rototuna was confiscated following the 1863 invasion of the Waikato. It was surveyed into 50-acre parcels as grants to militiamen of the Fourth Waikato Regiment. By 1880 enough farmers had settled to be worth forming a school committee for the 30 children, which opened as Kirikiriroa School in 1881. The school was renamed Rototuna in 1907 and enlarged in 1914. More development came in the 1900s, with a post office and a church in 1907, a store in 1910, a casein factory in 1913 and a grocery and butcher in 1914. Rototuna Road was gravelled in 1909, but it was still muddy enough to cause a death in 1916 and complaints were still being made in 1920. Electricity came to the area about 1922. The post office was replaced by rural delivery before 1926. Another church opened in 1931 and a hall was open at about the same time. The school closed between 1944 and 1963. Its site is now occupied by a church. The old dairy factory was used as a chocolate factory until 2017.

Geography

Rototuna is mainly in the Kirikiriroa Stream valley. It ranges from 35 m to 62 m above sea level.

Demographics

Rototuna covers 6.00 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Rototuna_Lake_in_1908.jpg" caption="Rototuna Lake in 1908"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Rototuna_Post_Office_about_1907.jpg" caption="Rototuna Post Office about 1907"] ::

Rototuna had a population of 12,213 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 2,184 people (21.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3,195 people (35.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 5,928 males, 6,255 females and 33 people of other genders in 3,927 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 2,781 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 2,259 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 5,463 (44.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,713 (14.0%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 59.7% European (Pākehā); 11.8% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 31.6% Asian; 3.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 92.7%, Māori language by 2.6%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 30.8%. 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 40.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 34.5% Christian, 5.3% Hindu, 3.0% Islam, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 4.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 44.5%, and 5.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,901 (30.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 4,263 (45.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,268 (24.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,341 people (14.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 5,004 (53.1%) people were employed full-time, 1,239 (13.1%) were part-time, and 231 (2.4%) were unemployed. ::data[format=table title="Individual statistical areas"] | Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) || Dwellings | Median age | Median income | New Zealand | 38.1 years | $41,500 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Rototuna North | 2.44 | 2,310 | 947 | 765 | 35.4 years | $39,300 | | | | Rototuna West | 0.84 | 2,778 | 3,307 | 831 | 36.3 years | $49,900 | | | | Rototuna East | 0.75 | 2,682 | 3,576 | 819 | 32.9 years | $49,100 | | | | Rototuna South West | 1.09 | 2,193 | 2,012 | 741 | 41.4 years | $44,000 | | | | Rototuna South East | 0.88 | 2,247 | 2,553 | 768 | 40.0 years | $45,100 | | | ::

Rototuna's population has risen rapidly, from 453 in 1996 to 12,213 in 2023. Its median income remains above the national median, but the median age in the northern areas is below the national median age of 38.1 years in 2023.

For censuses prior to 2018 Rototuna was formed of census areas for Rototuna (in 2018 largely renamed Rototuna South) and Horsham Downs (in 2018 forming Rototuna North and Central). Growth was initially to the south, then the north.

Facilities and Attractions

Rototuna has three shopping centres including Rototuna Shopping Centre and St James Shopping Centre. The recently completed mixed-use development called Rototuna Village is a mixture of retail, hospitality, office and high end apartments.

Future plans for a Rototuna "town-centre" is included in council planning. This is to be located at the corner of Resolution Drive & Borman Road. It is likely to include community facilities such as a library and possibly a pool - although both of these may be shared with the High Schools. $24m was proposed for library, pool and sports fields in the 2018 plan. Completion is planned by 2022.

Parks

Four large parks are being developed. Mangaiti Park, Te Manatu Park, Hare Puke Park and Rototuna Sports Parks. Construction started at the Sports Park in 2018. It was renamed Korokori Park in 2019 and officially opened in 2020. It will have 5 pitches by 2021. Hare Puke Park playground opened in 2018, with a theme of eels and the hinaki used to catch them. Plans for Mangaiti Park Te Manatu Park were developed in 2015 and a playground opened at Mangaiti in 2019. There are also smaller parks at Eden Park Reserve, Moonlight Drive Reserve, Rototuna Park, Te Awa O Katapaki Esplanade, Te Toe Toe Reserve and Wiltshire Drive Reserve.

Infrastructure

Roads

Rototuna roads have been enlarged from the previous country lane network since 2001, when the southern part of Resolution Drive was gazetted. Extension to Borman Road cost $1.4m in 2004. To be completed in 2021, Resolution Drive extension will link Rototuna to the Waikato Expressway to the north and the ring road at Wairere Drive to the south. The 1.9 km extension will cost $9.8m and a benefit–cost ratio of 4.1% is expected. East–west links are being provided by extension of Borman Rd (in 2006 it cost $840,000 to extend it to Cate Road) and North City Rd at a further cost of about $21m. All have two lanes and roundabouts.

The main traffic flows are on the north–south roads; Gordonton, Horsham Downs and Resolution, with lesser flows east–west on Thomas Road.

Buses

Buses on the Orbiter route serve Rototuna at 15 minute intervals. The Orbiter route was lengthened to serve Rototuna in 2009. The Rototuna Circular bus has provided a half hourly service since 2018. Bus 16 has linked Rototuna to the Transport Centre on a circuitous route via Callum Brae, at half hourly intervals, since 2018. Prior to 2009 that route was largely served by a Northerner bus from Chartwell. School routes to St Paul's, Southwell, Peachgrove Intermediate, Hamilton Boys' High and Sacred Heart were added in 2016.

Cycleways

3 m wide shared paths are being built beside Resolution Drive and Borman Rd and $1m is being spent on cycleways, mostly running north–south on the eastern edge of Rototuna.

Water

A 24 million litre reservoir opened at Kay Rd, beside the Expressway, in 2017. It is connected to the city's mains pipe network.

Education

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Rototuna_School_aerial_photo_1952.jpg" caption="Rototuna School aerial photo 1952 at corner of Cate and Rototuna School Roads"] ::

Rototuna Primary School and Te Totara Primary School are contributing primary schools (years 1–6) with rolls of and students respectively. Rototuna Primary opened in 2003 and Te Totara opened in 2008.

Rototuna Junior High School opened in early 2016 for the start of the school year which serves Years 7 to 10. It cost $40m to build the school for 1,200 pupils. Rototuna Senior High School opened in early 2017 for the start of the school year which serves Years 11 to 13. The Junior & Senior high schools are based on the same grounds and share some facilities. The junior school has a roll of and the senior school has students.

Hamilton Christian School is a state-integrated non-denominational composite school for years 1 to 13 with a roll of .

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of

There are also many early childhood centres throughout the suburb.

References

References

  1. (2019). "Rototuna Community Projects".
  2. (2020-02-26). "A warm welcome for city's newest sports park".
  3. "Plan of the Military settlements in the Upper Waikato District".
  4. (6 August 2019). "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  5. Namtok Consultancy Ltd.. (November 2011). "An Assessment Of The Potential Impact That Any Expansion And Development Of The Ruakura Estate Might Have On Cultural Values And Manawhenua".
  6. (18 Mar 1919). "DISTRICT NEWS - WAIKATO TIMES".
  7. ["Radiocarbon, Vol, 29, No. 2, 1987, P 263-301] RADIOCARBON DATES"](https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/10212/Hogg%20et%20al.%201987.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y).
  8. (7 April 1926). "GORDONTON. WAIKATO TIMES".
  9. (20 Feb 1928). "LAKE TUNAWHAKAPEKE. WAIKATO TIMES".
  10. (June 2007). "A review of break‐out floods from volcanogenic lakes in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.
  11. Tracie Dean-Speirs & Keri Neilson (Waikato Regional Council) with input from Paula Reeves (Wildland Consultants) and Johlene Kelly (Alchemists Ltd.). (10 October 2014). "Waikato region shallow lakes management plan: Volume 2".
  12. (17 Dec 1926). "THE COUNTRYSIDE - WAIKATO TIMES".
  13. (2018). "WDC District Plan Review – Built Heritage Assessment - Historic Overview – Eastern Sector".
  14. (24 Nov 1880). "WAIKATO DISTRICT NEWS. NEW ZEALAND HERALD".
  15. (14 Mar 1932). "Rototuna School Jubilee WAIKATO TIMES".
  16. (19 Feb 1881). "THE CAMBRIDGE LICENSING QUESTION. WAIKATO TIMES".
  17. (22 Aug 1907). "Board of Education. WAIKATO ARGUS".
  18. (26 Mar 1914). "BOARD OF EDUCATION - WAIKATO ARGUS".
  19. (26 Feb 1907). "Opening of the Rototuna Post Office. WAIKATO ARGUS".
  20. (19 Apr 1907). "Opening of the Rototuna Methodist Church. WAIKATO ARGUS".
  21. (26 Mar 1910). "Rototuna. WAIKATO ARGUS".
  22. (10 Dec 1913). "DISTRICT NEWS - WAIKATO ARGUS".
  23. (20 Apr 1914). "Rototuna. WAIKATO TIMES".
  24. (3 Oct 1908). "Kirikiriroa Road Board. WAIKATO ARGUS".
  25. (28 Apr 1909). "Rototuna. WAIKATO ARGUS".
  26. (19 Dec 1916). "ROTOTUNA MOTOR FATALITY - WAIKATO TIMES".
  27. (28 Feb 1920). "ROTOTUNA ROAD. WAIKATO TIMES".
  28. (11 Oct 1922). "DISTRICT NEWS - WAIKATO TIMES".
  29. (15 Apr 1931). "CHURCH AT ROTOTUNA. WAIKATO TIMES".
  30. (19 Apr 1930). "PRESENTATIONS. AUCKLAND STAR".
  31. (1944). "Ngaruawahia Sheet: N56".
  32. "Cate Road".
  33. "Former Waikato Valley Chocolates factory site up for grabs".
  34. (1998). "Sheet: S14".
  35. "Hamilton City – Water Distribution System Strategic Planning".
  36. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
  37. {{NZ census 2018. Rototuna North (175600), Rototuna Central (175900) and Rototuna South (176200)
  38. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  39. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  40. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  41. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  42. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  43. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  44. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  45. "Appendix 1.4.9 Rototuna Town Centre Design Guide - Hamilton City Council".
  46. "Rototuna and Northeast Hamilton Information".
  47. (2018-12-06). "Rototuna Community Hub project underway".
  48. "Rototuna parks - Hamilton City Council".
  49. (2018-11-19). "Construction starts on new Rototuna sports park".
  50. (12 December 2019). "Council AGENDA".
  51. "Korikori Park - Hamilton City Council".
  52. "Playgrounds - Hamilton City Council".
  53. "Playground Creations".
  54. "Neighbourhood and Amenity Reserves Management Plan 2019".
  55. "Playgrounds - Hamilton City Council".
  56. "Land Declared Road-Resolution Drive, - 2001 - New Zealand Gazette".
  57. (2004). "Hamilton Community Plan".
  58. "Roading project expected to unlock city's north-east".
  59. "Network Connections Summary Report - April 2013".
  60. "Rototuna".
  61. "2018 Traffic Flow Map".
  62. (7 April 1926). "GORDONTON. WAIKATO TIMES".
  63. (18 Mar 1919). "DISTRICT NEWS - WAIKATO TIMES".
  64. (24 Jan 2018). "Improved bus services roll out on eastern Hamilton routes".
  65. ["Radiocarbon, Vol, 29, No. 2, 1987, P 263-301] RADIOCARBON DATES"](https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/10212/Hogg%20et%20al.%201987.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y).
  66. (June 2007). "A review of break‐out floods from volcanogenic lakes in New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics.
  67. (8 May 2007). "Transport Committee Agenda".
  68. "Demand for northern bus routes forces council's hand".
  69. (2017). "Lessons in reservoir building".
  70. {{TKI. 6976. Rototuna Primary School
  71. {{TKI. 577. Te Totara Primary School
  72. "About Us". Rototuna Primary School.
  73. "Principal's Message". Te Totara Primary School.
  74. "Welcome to Rototuna High Schools". Rototuna High Schools.
  75. "Construction starts at new $40m Hamilton school".
  76. {{TKI. 708. Rototuna Junior High School
  77. {{TKI. 615. Rototuna Senior High School
  78. {{TKI. 451. Hamilton Christian School

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suburbs-of-hamilton,-new-zealand