Manawatu-Wanganui

Manawatu -Wanganui is a facility located in the south of the North Island of New Zealand region.

Geography

In the West, Manawatu -Wanganui adjacent to the Taranaki region, in the north to the Waikato region, in the north- east by the Hawke's Bay region and to the southeast by the Wellington region. Between Hawke's Bay and Wellington region reaches a relatively narrow " peninsula " to the Pacific Ocean. The southwest of the region bordering the South Taranaki Bight, a bay of the Tasman Sea.

The east of the region through the Ruahine and Tararua Range, both up to 1700 meters high central mountain chains that run through the east of New Zealand's North Island from north to south parallel to the coast line. The north of the region is dominated by the Tongariro National Park, where the three volcanoes Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are located. But most of the region is influenced by the rivers Whanganui and Manawatu. They also played already for Māori, for the Manawatu- Wanganui has been a major settlement area, economically and spiritually a major role.

Population

In the region a total of approximately 220,000 people. The two largest cities are Palmerston North with about 70,000 inhabitants and Wanganui with about 40,000 inhabitants.

Other towns and settlements are Levin, Feilding, Dannevirke, Taumarunui, Foxton and Marton.

In Manawatu -Wanganui relatively few people live in large metropolitan areas. More than half of the population live in rural areas, which is not really typical for New Zealand.

Administrative divisions

In Manawatu -Wanganui In total there are ten districts; four of them are still partially in other regions:

• Taupo District ( part)
• Waitomo District ( part)
• Ruapehu District
• Stratford District ( partial)
• Rangitikei District ( partial)
• Wanganui District
• Manawatu
• Palmerston North City Council
• Tararua District
• Horowhenua District

Economy

The economy in Manawatu -Wanganui is essentially dominated by the agriculture, forestry and tourism.

Agriculture and Forestry

Agriculture

Manawatu -Wanganui is famous for its predominantly rural economy. This led in the 1920s, among other things, to the creation of a University of Agriculture, in which the scientific development of fields, and the rearing of animals was taught. So that the government wanted to expand the two regions Canterbury and Manawatu -Wanganui as agricultural centers. 1996, there were in Manawatu -Wanganui 7.216 million sheep, so that the region is on the north island at the very top, in new zealand wide compared to Canterbury, Southland and Otago in fourth place.

Forestry

Manawatu -Wanganui is one of the most important areas for forestry in New Zealand. The predominantly yellow -brown soils are ideally suited for forestry. This economic sector played since the upgrade from Palmerston North to a "City of sawmills " of great importance and was the main reason for the initial economic advancement of the region. But the full prior to the beginning of the 20th century deforestation of native forests and numerous fires destroyed the biodiversity of the region almost completely. Thus, because almost no forests were for cutting down there, forestry beginning of the 20th century came to a near standstill. Resulting from soil erosion increased dramatically until the government decided shortly thereafter, large-scale reforestation only on the coast, then install the same in the interior. Today, often a sustainable forest economy operates.

Tourism

From 1996 to 1998 spent 4.1% of all tourists their holidays in the region. The seasonal fluctuations in the Ruapehu district were greatest, the number of tourists were in Palmerston North on the seasons most independent.

Infrastructure

In a north-south direction of the State Highway 1 run (SH 1) and the main railway line of the North Island, the North Iceland Main Trunk. Both routes eventually connect the largest city in New Zealand, Auckland, with the capital, Wellington. Gisborne - From west to east of State Highway 3 and the railway line Palmerston North cause.

The Inland Patea Road, which still partially unpaved road between Napier and Taihape made ​​late nineteenth, early twentieth century for the direct connection of the Wanganui region with the region of Hawke 's Bay, by the existing since 1925 Springvale Suspension Bridge over the Rangitikei River this is still the shortest route to the west-east crossing of the North Island over the Ruahine Range and the Kaweka Range on the eastern border of the region.

In the region there is no national seaport.

In total there are 16 % of the total road network ( 8732 km ) of the North Island Manawatu -Wanganui, which is paved about two-thirds. Nearly 1000 km of these roads are State Highways, in the North Island it is only in Waikato more.