Papatawa
Papatawa is a rural community in the Tararua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located six kilometres north-east of Woodville, on both sides of State Highway 2.[1]
The area has no shops, and locals use Palmerston North, Pahiatua and Dannevirke as service centres.[2]
History[edit]
19th century[edit]
European settlement of the area began in 1878,[3] when an area of forest called the Victoria Block was cleared and subdivided into 36 farming sections.[4]
The Manga-atua School house opened in the area 1887, with a roll of the 18 pupils increasing to 22 within the first day.[4] The school changed its name to Papatawa School in 1905, and it eventually gained an extra classroom.[1]
20th century[edit]
In 1910 John A. Millar, the Minister of Railways in the Ward Ministry, denied a request for a railway loading bank at Papatawa, citing a lack of funds.[5]
By the 1930s, the area had a dairy factory, a railway station, a county council yard, and a team of horses in stables. The area was connected by gravel roads, two rail lines and a shunting line. Cheese from the dairy factory was transported to the railway station by horse and cart, and most locals took the train to Woodville to do shopping.[1]
During the Great Depression, workers built a tennis court at the school and turned the school to face the sun. A pool was installed in the 1960s.[4]
21st century[edit]
The 4.5 kilometre Papatawa stretch of State Highway 2 has been the site of several fatal crashes.[6][7]
Between 2010 and 2014, the NZ Transport Agency realigned and straightened the 4.5 kilometre stretch of State Highway 2, with a new intersection, rail crossing, over-bridge, passing lane and stream diversion.[8] The $11 million project aimed to reduce crashes and separate local traffic from the 700 trucks that were using the road between Tararua and Hawke's Bay each day.[9]
Education[edit]
Papatawa School was a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students. The school opened in 1887 and operated through to August 2023 when it closed due to falling roll numbers. Children in the area now attend school in Woodville.[10]
Notable people[edit]
- Anna Leese, international opera singer raised in Papatawa[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "School still in after 130 years as Papatawa bucks closure trend". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Hawke's Bay Today. 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Papatawa School". tararuadc.govt.nz. Tararua District Council.
- ^ Matthews, Claire (1987). Papatawa : forged from the bush. Woodville: Papatawa Centennial Committee. OCLC: 154651459.
- ^ a b c Murdoch, Dave (15 May 2017). "Papatawa celebrates 130 years". Bush Telegraph.
- ^ "Loading Bank at Papatawa". Parliamentary Debates. 150: 662. 1910.
- ^ "One dead, two injured after crash". Otago Daily Times. New Zealand Press Association. 6 December 2009.
- ^ Iles, Julie (16 January 2019). "Papatawa crash leaves two dead and another injured". Stuff. Dominion Post.
- ^ "Papatawa Realignment". nzta.govt.nz. NZ Transport Agency.
- ^ "Safer, straighter highway celebrated at Papatawa". NZ Transport Agency. 31 January 2014.
- ^ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/papatawa-school-to-close-its-doors-for-final-time/HCIDCZR5VRC2PAK3MPHSSIW7CQ/