Tokoroa Talking Poles: Tree Carving Since 1998, Tokoroa has been "sprouting" Talking Poles, consisting mainly of carvings representing the many cultures in the town. This one, photographed shortly after its unveiling in 2004, is a chainsaw carving of an old tree which had suffered extensive damage from a storm and died. It is representative of the Greenman in Welsh mythology and is located on State Highway 1, immediately adjacent to the town's information centre.

Tokoroa is the second largest town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the largest settlement in the South Waikato district and is located 30 kilometres southwest of Rotorua close to the foot of the Mamaku Ranges. Its population in 2006 census night was 15,063 (2001-14,025) (1996-15,096). Tokoroa is located mid-way between Taupo and Hamilton on State Highway One. The Kinleith Branch railway passes through Tokoroa. The other major settlements in the South Waikato District are Putaruru, Tirau and Arapuni.

History

Early history

It is traditionally recorded that one of the great fighting chiefs of the Ngati Kahupungapunga, Tokoroa by name, was slain by Ngati Raukawa during the siege of Pohuturoa, a high rocky eminence 27km south of Tokoroa on the main Taupo highway. It is probable that some early surveyor applied the name Tokoroa as a tribute to the old chief's memory. The name 'Tokoroa' first appeared on the early maps of the 1860's.

Growth

Tokoroa is one of the most recent towns in New Zealand history. It first developed around 1948, as a residential satellite for New Zealand Forest Products Limited's timber, pulp and paper mill at Kinleith, 8km south of Tokoroa. In 1948 the town could boast a population of 1100. By the time NZFP began to downscale its operations at Kinleith in the early 1980's, Tokoroa had a population of 18,000 - just 2,000 below the number necessary to be proclaimed a city. In recent years however, the downscaling at Kinleith and in other industries has resulted in a drop in population, and only 14,175 people resided in Tokoroa as of 2001.

Geography

Location

Surrounding the township are many Dairy Farms and Plantation Forests. There are many scenic reserves around the town - the artificial lake 'Moana-Nui' lies within a popular recreational park. The lake has a many ducks and much weed in it (partially due to its shallowness). Signs have been put up warning people not to swim in the water due to health concerns.

The town's location in the centre of the central North Island and its developed transportation network provide plenty of potential for warehousing and distribution. Tokoroa lies in the centre of a triangle made up of the popular tourism destinations of Rotorua, Waitomo and Taupo. There are about 45 lakes within 45 minutes drive of Tokoroa.

One can travel to four major centres, each less than a one hour drive:

• Hamilton (north north west)
• Tauranga (north east)
• Rotorua (south east east)
• Taupo (south)

Township

As well as the central business district, the township is made up of many subdivisions, each built in different stages of Kinleith's development. These subdivisions are:

• Parkdale
• Paraonui
• Papanui
• Matarawa
• Aotea
• Strathmore
• Amisfield

Many of the street names of the town were named by the first director of Kinleith mill, Sir David Henry, after places near his home town of Edinburgh, in Scotland. There is even a Sir David Henry primary school.

Secondary education facilities

Tokoroa has two high schools: Tokoroa High School and Forest View High School.

Industries

The main industries that support Tokoroa are forestry, dairy farming, consumer retail centres and fast food restaurants. Recently, due to a drop in timber value, much of the surrounding forest is being converted into farmland.

The largest The Warehouse store in the South Waikato is situated in Tokoroa. It is a popular shopping place for the local people. Other shops include Mitre 10 (hardware store), Benchmark (building supplies), Beta Electronics, TJ's 100% (electronics), Strutt (streetware), and Van Dykes (furniture).

Tokoroa boasts many popular fast food restaurants, including KFC, McDonalds and BP's own Wild Bean cafe. Apart from the fast food, there are also a lot of slow food outlets, such as New World, Countdown, Scoffers, Tokoroa Fruit Supply, Bay Produce and multiple superettes, dairies and fish 'n' chip shops.

Radio stations

There are two local radio stations in Tokoroa: Classic Hits Radio Forestland and Raukawa FM.

Graffiti and tagging

There is an anti-graffiti organisation in Tokoroa called South Waikato Safer Community Council (SWSCC). This community group has an 0800NOTAGS policy in place that responds to graffiti (tagging). A three pronged approach is used that is Pro-active, Re-active and Punitive in its strategy. Graffiti is an accepted form of art and is promoted under the Pro-active strategy.

People

Tokoroa is multicultural town, with about 35% of the population being Maori and another 20% from the Pacific Islands (mainly the Cook Islands). The remaining 45% of the population is made up of people from dozens of countries around the world. Tokoroa has New Zealand's largest Pacific Island community outside of Auckland and Wellington.

Notable past residents

• Ben Hana
• Pero Cameron — Basketball player and Tall Black
• Walter Little — All Black
• Keven Mealamu — All Black
• Isaac Boss — Ireland rugby international
• Richard Kahui
• Quade Cooper
• The Politicians - rock/new wave/reggae band formed in 1981

External links

• South Waikato Information
• South Waikato district council website
• Photographs of Tokoroa and the South Waikato District
• Tokoroa Cinema 3
• Tokoroa Mountain Biking Club
• South Waikato Model Aero Club (R/C planes)

Coordinates: 38°14′S, 175°52′E

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