Ruapuke

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

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

Field	Value
official_name	Ruapuke
image_skyline	File:Ruapuke from Karioi summit.jpg
image_caption	Ruapuke from Karioi summit, with Aotea Harbour and Albatross Point beyond
pushpin_map	New Zealand
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_type1	Region
subdivision_name	New Zealand
subdivision_name1	Waikato
subdivision_type2	Territorial authority
subdivision_name2	Waikato District
subdivision_type3	Wards
subdivision_name3
subdivision_type4	Community Board
subdivision_name4	Raglan Community Board
leader_title	Territorial Authority
leader_name	Waikato District Council
leader_title1	Regional council
leader_name1	Waikato Regional Council
leader_title2	Mayor of Waikato
leader_name2
leader_title3	Taranaki-King Country MP
leader_name3
leader_title4	Hauraki-Waikato MP
leader_name4
seat_type	Electorates
seat
utc_offset	+12
timezone	NZST
timezone_DST	NZDT
utc_offset_DST	+13
coordinates
postal_code	3296
population_total	138
population_as_of	2023
::

Ruapuke is a small farming community (predominantly sheep and cattle farmers) in the Waikato region on the slopes of Karioi, between Raglan and Kawhia in New Zealand.

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, Pūriri, and Cabbage trees. 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." 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. [1]

The 4413 acre Ruapuke block was bought by the government from Ngāti Whakamarurangi between 1854 and 1856 for £300. A Waitangi Tribunal report says, "McLean 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.[[File:Papanui_Point.jpg|thumb|Papanui Point, with Ruapuke beach to the south]]There was a store at Motakotako from the 1860s. From about 1875 to 1883 it was run by John William Ellis, 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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Ruapuke_from_Karioi.JPG" caption="access-date=2018-01-29}} -"] ::

::data[format=table]

Population	Households	Median age	Average income	National average	Year	N	S	total	N	S	total


2001	60	57	117	24	15	39	39.5	37.5	$22,500	$12,500	$18,500
2006	39	69	108	18	21	49	40	34	$28,300	$15,400	$24,100
2013	54	60	114	27	24	51	43.8	41.5	$32,500	$20,800	$27,900
2018	66	69	135
2023	63	75	138
::

Roads

Ruapuke is about 12 km from Te Mata. 840 m of Ruapuke Road was sealed and some bends removed in 2011. It is often used for rally car competitions.

The north end of Ruapuke Beach is about 23 km from Raglan via Whaanga Road and Te Toto Gorge, which is gravel, winding, mountainous and described as 'iconic' in descriptions of Rally New Zealand. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Mouth_of_Ruapuke_Stream.jpg" caption="Ruapuke Stream enters the Tasman Sea through the sand dunes"] ::

Roading History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Ruapuke_Beach_from_south.JPG" caption="year=1970}}"] ::

Ruapuke Rd (originally known as Ruapuke Mountain Rd) was built as a shorter route from 1902 and was metalled in 1935.

Surfing

Until the 1990s the beach largely remained unknown, used by local residents and a few surfing and surfcasting fishing enthusiasts. Ruapuke beach is sometimes used as a backup beach for events such as the Billabong Pro Junior Series (2007), and the Backdoor Oceanbridge Manu Bay Pro (2019), due to conditions.

References

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
"NZAA Site Viewer".
"Te Mana Whatu Ahuru Waitangi Tribunal Report 2018".
(10 April 1937). "NEW SCHOOL OPENED, New Zealand Herald".
"Buses".
(25 Nov 1873). "NEW ZEALAND HERALD".
"2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place".
{{NZ census meshblock 2018. 0861502 and 0861800
"Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
"827 Ruapuke Rd to Te Mata".
"Council gets ready to start Ruapuke Road Seal Extension Project".
"Ruapuke | Search Results | Fiat Club Waikato".
"Swann Access Rd to Raglan".
Thompson, Eric. (6 May 2011). "Motorsport: Paddon gears up for trophy hunt".
Trolove, F J. (1970). "Ruapuke".
(30 Aug 1902). "Waikato Argus, RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL".
"1935 Public Works Statement".
"Top Australian Surfers Prepare for Billabong Pro Junior Series".
Kennings, Ben. (2019-05-05). "Back-to-Back for Cederman at Backdoor Oceanbridge Manu Bay Pro".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::