Mataroa

Mataroa is a settlement in the Rangitikei District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

The area was already settled by the Māori iwi Ngāti Rangi by the time William Colenso made the first recorded European visit in 1845.[1]

Railway surveyors cut a rough track through the district in 1884, and wool farmers began clearing the area in the following decades.[1] The Mataroa Tunnel was dug through the area in the early 1900s.[2] The Main Trunk railway line was laid through it in 1906 and it began to carry trains in 1907.[3]

Paengaroa Scenic Reserve, viewed from across the Hautapu River

The Paengaroa Scenic Reserve is located in Mataroa.[4] It includes a carpark, picnicking area, and ten minute walking track.[5]

There were two fatal crashes in Mataroa in 2019.[6][7]

Education

Mataroa School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[8] with a roll of 54 as of August 2024.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b McLintock, A H (1966). "An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand – Taihape". teara.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. ^ "Public Works Amendment Bill". Parliamentary Debates. 135. 8 November 1904.
  3. ^ "Mataroa Tunnel (N.Z.)". natlib.govt.nz. National Library of New Zealand.
  4. ^ "Paengaroa Scenic Reserve". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
  5. ^ "Paengaroa Scenic Reserve Walk". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
  6. ^ Kilmister, Sam (5 April 2019). "Police release the names of two fatal crash victims near Taihape". Stuff.
  7. ^ Mitchell, Paul (16 December 2019). "Manawatū boy orphaned after mother killed in Taihape crash". Stuff.
  8. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  9. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.


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