Waikato (Region)

Waikato is an administrative region in the North Island of New Zealand. The area is named after the river Waikato. Capital of the district 's Hamilton.

Geography

The region is 25,000 km ². It is bordered to the west by the Tasman Sea, and in the north east to the Pacific Ocean. In the north, includes the Auckland region, in the east regions Bay of Plenty and Hawke 's Bay and to the south the regions Manawatu -Wanganui and Taranaki on.

Essentially, can the region into three geographical parts separate:

  • Far west of the district, near the coast is a low mountain chain that Hakarimata range, particularly in the north - are more like rolling hills as a mountain - at the mouth of the Waikato River in the Tasman Sea. This area is also known for its long - dark volcanic sand beaches, which are interrupted by three natural harbors. This area is particularly good for surfing.
  • East of this ridge begins with the Waikato Plains broad low level, which is known for its fertile soil and its temperate climate. This area is intensively used for agricultural purposes, although here are also not yet drained peat swamps.
  • Further east, on the border to the Bay of Plenty, the land rises in the Kaimai Mamaku Ranges and the turn to mid-mountain level and is mostly wooded.

In addition, the Coromandel Peninsula Auckland is one of the metropolis east to the Regional area.

Population

The economic and cultural center of the region is the city of Hamilton, which also forms the fourth largest metropolitan area in New Zealand with approximately 120,000 inhabitants. The following localities are still out of Hamilton in the Waikato Plains and between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants: Matamata, Tokoroa, Te Awamutu and Cambridge. Smaller settlements are also Huntly, Morrinsville, Ngaruawahia, Otorohanga, Putaruru, Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Te Kuiti, and Tirau.

There are also important places that are not in the normally meant with " Waikato " area, but still officially belong to the region. These are mainly the Coromandel Peninsula and the southeastern parts of the region, ie, mainly the Taupo district. The most important among them are Taupo itself, not far from Turangi, Waiuku south of Auckland and Paeroa, Te Aroha, Thames, Whangamata and Whitianga in the Thames Valley and on the Coromandel Peninsula.

History

The Waikato region was one of the most densely populated areas in New Zealand Māori. This led in the 1860s also meant that the area was fiercely contested in the New Zealand wars. Today, the present king of Māori, Tuheitia Paki lives in Waikato.

Administrative divisions

In the region, there is a city district ( City Council ) and eleven "normal" districts ( District Councils ):

Economy

The two main industries are agriculture and tourism. Especially in low-lying alluvial land of the Waikato River corn is grown and kept cattle. The Northeast is known about New Zealand and beyond for its high quality wines. But the energy sector plays a role, since the upper reaches of the Waikato is used with the help of hydro power plants for energy production.

Sons and daughters of the region

  • Helen Clark - Prime Minister of New Zealand
  • Jim Bolger - former Prime Minister of New Zealand
  • The Datsuns - rock band (especially hard rock or punk rock )
  • Tim and Neil Finn - Rock musicians of Irish descent
  • Bruce McLaren - racers ( and Others Formula 1)
Hamilton, New Zealand Auckland (Region) Bay of Plenty (Region) Manawatu-Wanganui Kaimai Range Cambridge, New Zealand Thames, New Zealand Thames-Coromandel District Matamata-Piako District Northland region Auckland Council Gisborne, New Zealand Marlborough Region Nelson, New Zealand Chatham Islands
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