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), New Zealand|
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:
Township
As well as the central business district, the township is made up of many subdivisions, each...
