Te Kūiti is a town in the north of the King Country region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk railway, 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Hamilton. The town promotes itself as the sheep shearing capital of the world and is host to the annual New Zealand National Shearing Championships.
Te Kūiti is approximately 80 km south of Hamilton and 19 km south-east of Waitomo. The area around Te Kūiti, commonly known as the King Country, gives its name to the Heartland Championshiprugby team based in Te Kūiti.
Te Tokanganui-a-Noho meeting house in Te Kūiti, 1917
Te Kūiti is the Māori name given to the area. In its original form of "Te Kūititanga", it literally means "the valley", "the squeezing in" or "the narrowing".[3]
Te Piruru Papakainga Marae and Te Pukenui o Taonui meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Rōrā
Tāne Hopuwai Marae and Tāne Hopuwai meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Apakura
Te Tokanganui a Noho Marae and meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Rōrā. This wharenui was constructed in 1873 for Te Kooti and his followers, and was one of the largest wharenui ever built at the time.[6]
Tomotuki Marae and Parekatini meeting house are affiliated with Apakura, Parekaitini and Ngāti Rōrā
Te Waipatoto Marae, and Waipatoto and Waipatoto Tuarua meeting houses, are affiliated with Ngāti Kinohaku
Limestone deposits and water have created the Waitomo Caves, northwest of the town, one of New Zealand's most-visited tourist locations. The town itself is located in a valley with many rich limestone deposits.[7] The Manga-o-Kewa Stream runs through the valley and is a tributary of the Waipā River.[8]
Te Kūiti's hinterland consist mainly of farmland and limestone quarries. The land surrounding Te Kūiti has steep hilly relief which reflects the nature of the North King Country region.
The climate of Te Kūiti is wet during the winter and dry during the late summer with an average of 1,450mm of rainfall each year.[9]
Te Kūiti covers 8.41 km2 (3.25 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,680 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 556.5 people per km2.
Te Kūiti had a population of 4,572 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 315 people (7.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 78 people (1.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,611 households, comprising 2,241 males and 2,331 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 1,041 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 894 (19.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,872 (40.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 768 (16.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 51.7% European/Pākehā, 55.2% Māori, 5.6% Pacific peoples, 5.7% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 11.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.2% had no religion, 32.7% were Christian, 4.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.1% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 318 (9.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,047 (29.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 222 people (6.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,566 (44.4%) people were employed full-time, 561 (15.9%) were part-time, and 195 (5.5%) were unemployed.[11]
The "Shearing Capital of the World" contains the world's largest shearer, seven metres high. On 1 April 2006 the largest sheep show in the world took place here, with more than 2000 sheep.[14]
Statue celebrating the shearing industry in Te Kūiti
The carved Te Tokanganui-a-Noho meeting house was gifted to the local Maori people (Ngāti Maniapoto) by Te Kooti, the most famous Maori rebel leader of the 19th century. He was given sanctuary by the chiefs of Maniapoto against the white colonial Government of New Zealand and under Maniapoto's protection carved one of the most famous and important late 19th century spiritual houses in the North Island. This house is central to Te Kūiti's historical foundation, also referred to as the epicenter of the Rohe Pōtae or "King Country". In 1881 the last frontier was opened to colonial settlers.
The Tatsuno Japanese Garden is at the southern end of the main street.[15]
The Mangaokewa reserve located 5 km south of Te Kūiti is a popular attraction for rock climbers, hikers, picnic goers, swimmers and trout fisherman in the region.[16]
A 'Revitalisation Project' for the NZHPT Category II listed[17]Te Kuiti railway station was started in 2014[18] to provide for arts and crafts groups, an education centre, youth projects, historical displays and a meeting room.[19] The Rail Heritage Trust describes the station as, "the finest remaining example of a standard class B station".[20]
Sign for Waitete Rugby Club, the home of Colin and Stan Meads.
Te Kūiti is the home of the Waitete Rugby Football Club and the King Country Rugby Union, both of whom are based at Rugby Park. The famous Colin Meads spent the entirety of his career with both Waitete and King Country. The town also has an association football club, Te Kuiti Albion Football Club, who play in the Deacon Shield tournament. They play their home games at Centennial Park where there is a small clubroom. The club colours are yellow and black striped shirts and black shorts.
All Black Sir Colin Meads lived in Te Kūiti. The auction of his farm in 2008 caused nationwide interest.[40] A statue of Meads was unveiled in the town centre during the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, also drawing national interest, and Meads was present and spoke at the unveiling despite battling cancer,[41] which he died from two months later.[42]
Colin Meads's brother Stanley Meads also lived in Te Kūiti.
Les Munro, the last surviving pilot from the Dambusters air raid, was mayor for some years and has a street named in his honour.[43]
