Murupara
Encyclopedia
Murupara is a town located in the North Island
of New Zealand
. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty
region between the Kaingaroa Forest
and Te Urewera National Park
, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River
, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua
, along SH38
. Murupara is the terminus of the Murupara Branch railway. Its principal industries are all related to forestry
. The name Murupara means "to wipe off mud"
Many years ago, Murupara was a staging post on the road between Rotorua and Napier
. In the early 1900s, the planting of exotic trees began on the surrounding scrubland. This area is now known as the Kaingaroa Forest, with 1,400 square kilometres of planted pines.
As the main service centre for the many forestry workers and their families, Murupara grew to a population of over 3000. Recent changes to the forestry contracting system have brought about a decrease in the number of permanent residents, but Murupara remains a well-serviced township with a strong community spirit.
The settlements of Galatea
, Horomanga, Kopuriki, Aniwhenua, Waiohau and Murupara lie between the boundary of the Kaingaroa Forest, the popular Te Urewera National Park
and Whirinaki Forest Park
. Earlier history is also evident around Murupara. In a rock shelter approximately eight kilometres west of the town centre are a number of ancient cave drawings.
Murupara is notable for being a "Gang Town" and is considering a ban on gang patches from being worn within the town limits.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
region between the Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa Forest
Kaingaroa Forest is the largest forest in the North Island of New Zealand, and the largest plantation in the southern hemisphere.The forest covers 2900 km² in the inland East Cape and Bay of Plenty regions, and stretches south past the east coast of Lake Taupo...
and Te Urewera National Park
Te Urewera National Park
Te Urewera National Park is one of fourteen national parks within New Zealand and is the largest of the four in the North Island. Covering an area of approximately 2,127 km², it is in the north east of the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island....
, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River
Rangitaiki River
The Rangitaiki River is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty region in New Zealand's North Island. It is 155 kilometres in length, and rises inland from northern Hawke Bay to the east of the Kaingaroa Forest....
, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, along SH38
New Zealand State Highway 38
State Highway 38 is one of New Zealand's State Highways on the North Island. It starts near Wai-O-Tapu at the intersection with SH 5 and it ends at Wairoa, where it connects to SH 2. It is the shortest connection from the Central North Island to the East Coast , but it is not often used as such...
. Murupara is the terminus of the Murupara Branch railway. Its principal industries are all related to forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
. The name Murupara means "to wipe off mud"
Many years ago, Murupara was a staging post on the road between Rotorua and Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
. In the early 1900s, the planting of exotic trees began on the surrounding scrubland. This area is now known as the Kaingaroa Forest, with 1,400 square kilometres of planted pines.
As the main service centre for the many forestry workers and their families, Murupara grew to a population of over 3000. Recent changes to the forestry contracting system have brought about a decrease in the number of permanent residents, but Murupara remains a well-serviced township with a strong community spirit.
The settlements of Galatea
Galatea, New Zealand
Galatea is a settlement in the Whakatane district in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand.The forested hills and mountains of the Ikawhenua Range and in particular Mount Tawhiuau stand guard on the eastern flank of the Galatea Plains or Basin, an area surrounding the village...
, Horomanga, Kopuriki, Aniwhenua, Waiohau and Murupara lie between the boundary of the Kaingaroa Forest, the popular Te Urewera National Park
Te Urewera National Park
Te Urewera National Park is one of fourteen national parks within New Zealand and is the largest of the four in the North Island. Covering an area of approximately 2,127 km², it is in the north east of the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island....
and Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki Forest Park
Whirinaki Forest Park is a publicly accessible forest park in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is centered around the town of Minginui and part of the eastern boundary flanks the Urewera National Park....
. Earlier history is also evident around Murupara. In a rock shelter approximately eight kilometres west of the town centre are a number of ancient cave drawings.
Murupara is notable for being a "Gang Town" and is considering a ban on gang patches from being worn within the town limits.