Taranaki Opportunity
The region has long been a vital contributor to New Zealand’s economic wellbeing, forged on a buoyant food industry and a prosperous energy and production sector. Both have taken Taranaki to the world. With the advent of COVID-19, that world has now changed but Taranaki’s strong foundations in food, agriculture, engineering, energy, IT, logistics, hospitality, manufacturing, and the visitor industry, coupled with a can-do attitude ‘like no other’ will ensure the region not only recovers but lays the foundation for an even stronger and better future. Global expectation for greater sustainability practices, social procurement, low-emission, green or renewable energy solutions, and regenerative, low-carbon footprint food and drink production are helping to shape Taranaki’s direction and growth. Visitors looking for authenticity and a connection to culture, history and people through immersive natural experiences are shaping the region’s story. Those looking to invest, whether through calling Taranaki home or establishing a commercial presence, are helping to define its future. Digital connectivity and the ability to conduct business globally with a click of a mouse are cementing its desirability as a lifestyle choice. Taranaki has huge potential in this new environment. People from the Taranaki community, along with local government, business and iwi leaders have united in planning around opportunities, coming together to develop a long-term vision of a modern, high-value economy – detailed in the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap.
This includes actively encouraging investment and innovation. It is this enduring vision that places Taranaki in a good position for swift economic recovery. New initiatives are already underway in Taranaki. Hydrogen, smart grids, and a range of renewable energy technologies are being investigated and implemented. Investments are being made in providing high-value premium food and fibre products. The number of visitors to the region had almost doubled in the past decade, prior to COVID-19, as a result of infrastructure development, enterprise start-ups, and increased awareness of the region as a unique and compelling visitor destination. The New Zealand Government is investing in the region’s long-term vision through a number of key projects, including the National New Energy Development Centre, a major upgrade to the region’s hospital, roading infrastructure enhancements, and the development of the Taranaki Crossing, a significant visitor offering. At a regional level, local government has invested in a contemporary new airport terminal to better service the region’s accessibility.
Source: Venture Taranaki Investment Prospectus
Regional Population
126,400
Regional GDP
$8,885 million
GDP per capita
$70,626
Building Consents
$336m
Average house prices
$630k
Retail spending
2.1B
Tourism
$259 million
Sunshine hours
2,592
Servicable population from South Taranaki Business Park
Within 5km
10,000
Within 30km
28,000
Within 70km
126,000
Within 200km
250,000
South Taranaki Key Industry
Distance from Business Park
Farm & Dairy
Anzco Foods
18km
Silver Fern Farms
4km
Yarrows Bakery
17km
Fonterra Whareroa
7km
Yarrows Bakery
17km
Fonterra Wahreora
7km
Oil, Gas & Energy
West Side Petroleum
16km
Beach Energy
14km
OMV Maui Production Station
52.9km
Todd Energy
18km
Balance
17km
Cheal Well Sites & Production Station
21km
Contact Energy
31km
Rendering Plants
Taranaki Bio Extracts
12km
Taranaki Bi Products
12km
Manufacturing
Uno Windows & Doors
0km
Presco Prenail
3.5km
Taranaki Precast
5.7km
Construction
Arthur Browns
2.5km
Fulton Hogan
350mkm
Downers
2.4km
Placemakers
350m
Bunnings
1.8km
Agriculture
Class harvest centre
500m
Trans Ag
2.6km
Power Farming
2.6km
Farmlands
2.3m
Farm Source
1.5km
Transport/ Warehousing
Agtrans
0km
Hawera Haulage
3.2km
Sandfords
26.4km
Supermarkets
PAK’nSAVE
3.9km
Countdown
3.8km
Schools
>30 Schools
South Taranaki Region
History of the land
Early ethnographic research of the Hawera District was taken up by local historian John Houston, who produced regular newspaper articles between 1932 and 1937 detailing the pre-European era and early contact period pa and papakainga located in and around Hawera, as part of a wider body of work on the South Taranaki District. More recent ethnographic and historical research has been produced that has drawn on work undertaken Tony Sole as part of Waitangi Tribunal research, and the considerable works of local historian Ian Church, which provide a comprehensive review of Māori settlement in South Taranaki prior to the Taranaki Wars. Snippets of relevant ethnographic information, often provided by local Māori informants can also be derived from a review of local historical publications; Alistair Buist’s NZAA site record forms and the records of the Taranaki Branch of the Historic Places Trust.
These works draw on early records of the Hawera District provided by missionary accounts, including censuses of the local Māori congregations; accounts from traders and travellers; and reports from the military campaigns that impacted South Taranaki between 1865 and 1881. A review of these various reports and the published works noted above, provides an idea of the nature and location Māori settlements and pa in the Hawera District from 1840 until 1881. Having reviewed this material I am not aware at this time of historical accounts that specifically refer to precontact Māori settlements, or pre 1900 era Māori or Pakeha land use, other than pastoral farming within the project area; despite a considerable number of sites being recorded in the surrounding area of Hawera and Normanby.
Nearby historic sites include such places as Ketemarae, Matariki and Utinga, north of the project area; Waihi, Te Whenuku, Pikituroa and Mangamanga to the west; the Ketemarae complex and Turuturu-mokai to the east; Te Raumanui; Taupatate, and Matangara the south; and Te Hawera to the southeast; and Te Haumi to the southwest. Each of these places have a lengthy history of their own, beyond the scope of this assessment to summarise, however I refer to their record to demonstrate that this development is situated within proximity to several well-established historic places, and within the hinterland settled by Māori prior to European contact. A review of early land plans and campaign maps show no Māori pa and papakainga; British and/or colonial redoubts; or early settler’s homesteads within the project area.
Figure 3: Old land plan DP 741, showing the plan of Alfred Goodson’s property and part Section 559 as subdivided in 1889. Goodson’s house and woolshed are the only structures marked on the plan.
Earliest survey plans show the project area was within sections 558 and 559 Patea District, Block V Hawera District. The area was sparely occupied by the first European colonists. The first European settler was Mathew John Goodson, who ran a large sheep and cattle station at this property from circa 1871, known then as the Waihi Downs estate. This property included most of the land in south of Ohangai Road, east of Ketemarae Road and north of Glover Road. In 1880, he built a residence at Waihi Downs (the Goodson homestead) where he resided until his death in 1888. An early land plan produced in 1889 after M.J. Goodson’s death indicate that Sections 53 and part of 54 formed part of the estate that were subdivided off for his son, J. A. Goodson. At that time the only buildings shown on the estate are the Goodson homestead and outbuildings, a woolshed, and another house, all located on now neighbouring properties to the west.
Figure 5: Planned subdivision of Section 558, Block V, Hawera Survey District, produced for John Winks in 1900. No buildings or structures are indicated on this plan at this time.
The greater part of the project area is located on former Section 558, originally granted to John Winks, an early colonial settler, and one of the Hawera District’s inaugural members of the Patea County Council when that council was established in 1876. Winks then subdivided the Section in 1900 and all buildings structures situated within the project area appear to post-date this subdivision. I have not found evidence on land plans reviewed to date that indicate that buildings or structures were constructed within this project area prior to this subdivision taking place. It is likely that the area was simply grazed as part of a sheep and cattle farm.
Source: Ivan Bruce
South Taranaki History
South Taranaki is a district steeped in history. From Parihaka Pā – the home of 19th century prophet Te Whiti and symbol of peace and passive resistance across the world – to Turuturu Mōkai – the scene of bloody battles and beheadings – South Taranaki is a history-lover’s heaven. Like a set out of Lord of the Rings, South Taranaki was previously covered in dense forest, with the now extinct Moa, Huia and Takahē roaming the land. Early Māori made the incredible journey by waka from their homeland in the eastern islands of Polynesia, known as Hawaiiki. Turi led his people from the Aotea waka overland from Kāwhia to Pātea, while those in Kurahaupō travelled from their landing place at Ōrākei to Taranaki. When Europeans arrived in Aotearoa, Māori had occupied the coast of South Taranaki for many hundreds of years, clearing land closest to the coast for cultivation and leaving the interior bush largely intact. By this time, a sophisticated Māori culture had developed with fortified villages or pā located throughout the district. Missionaries arrived in early 1840 and the 1860s saw the start of European settlement in South Taranaki.
Early attempts by Europeans to acquire land quickly lead to Māori resolving not to sell any land between Ōkurukuru and Kai Iwi. As Māori resentment to European settlement built up, the Taranaki Wars began, spanning nine years, from 1860. Chief Tītokowaru organised his people to take up arms against the settlement of their land and settlers were harassed until they abandoned the area. In 1865, Governor Grey proclaimed all the land between the Stony River and Waitōtara to be confiscated. While the Wars ended in 1869, Māori resistance was not finished and Parihaka became a rallying point for Māori of many tribes. The followers of Te Whiti and Tohu were hard-working and peaceful, the village provided food for all and the elders kept law and order. In November 1881, troops invaded Parihaka but found no resistance. Te Whiti and Tohu were taken from Parihaka and incarcerated in Addington Jail for an indefinite period, without trial. Fortunately, in early 1883, a report came from Britain criticising the treatment of Māori in the colony and the pair were quickly released. The end of hostilities encouraged Europeans to re-settle in South Taranaki.
Early communities made their living from flax milling, saw milling, trading in cocksfoot grass and an edible fungus known as Taranaki Wool. When sufficient land had been converted to pasture, dairying began to intensify and co-operative dairy factories were established. At Opunake and Patea, wharves were constructed to cope with the growth in trade, although both facilities were later closed down as land transport improved and became more commercial. Opunake opened one of the first co-operative dairy factories in 1885, leading the way to become the district’s biggest industry. During the 1890s, Taranaki’s population grew faster than anywhere else in New Zealand. The first 20 years in the 20th century saw 95 butter and 21 cheese factories change to 26 butter and 116 cheese factories. When milk tanker collections started in 1956, it was to be less than 20 years before the 115 dairy factories dotted around the province closed down in favour of what is now the largest single-site dairy factory in the Southern Hemisphere at Hawera.
Source: South Taranaki Lifestyle Booklet
Helpful Resources
Venture Taranaki: Live, Work, Learn Here
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KEVIN HIGHT
Commercial Sales & Leasing | McDonald Real Estate Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008
M 021 746 371
O 06 757 3083
DDI 06 222 3414
E kevin.hight@eieio.co.nz
RUSSELL ATKINSON
Commercial Sales, Leasing and Business Broking | McDonald Real Estate Ltd | Licensed REAA 2008