Kaponga

Kaponga ( Māori for tree fern ) is a small Siedung in the southern part of the Taranaki region in the west of the North Island of New Zealand. She refers to herself as "The Gateway to Dawson 's Falls " (Gate to Dawson Falls) on Mount Taranaki / Egmont, whose summit is located 15 kilometers north-northwest. Kaponga is located about 15 km north of the coast of the South Taranaki Bight. The nearest large towns are Eltham about 13 km to the east and Opunake, about 25 km to the west. Kaponga lies on the road connecting the two places where connection is made to the State Highway 3 and State Highway 45.

At the 2006 census the town had 372 inhabitants, an increase of 21 since 2001.

The settlement was founded in 1882 and has since some of the first settlers were Swiss, a close relation to Switzerland. 1952 Switzerland club was founded in the town.

Of the numerous shops of the place once had remained a 4 -Square supermarket, a dairy, two actions for agricultural needs, a veterinarian and a Bed and Breakfast as well as a pub. The library of the site is operated by the district as " Library Plus": in addition to the administrative services of the district borrow literature and Internet access are offered.

Tourist have the greatest importance, the Dawson Falls at Mount Taranaki, which can be reached from here by road.

4 km north of the city is also a major national park, Hollard Gardens. This is since 1982 owned by the Queen Elizabeth National Trust. The economy of the surrounding area is characterized primarily by the dairy industry.

In the village there is a small museum which Hazelwood Horse Ornament Museum, the objects with horse motifs, which were collected by the family Hazelwood.

Education

The elementary school had Kaponga Schoo 2011 104 students and a decile rating of 4 was established in 1891 and merged in 2005 with the schools of Kapuni and Mahoe.

St. Patrick 's School is an integrated into the national education Catholic elementary school with 28 students and a decila rating of 5 in 2011. St. Patrick's began in 1921 in the local church to teach and moved in February 1922 in a private school house.