Ngaruawahia

Ngaruawahia is a municipality in the district of the same name Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. For the meaning of the name two possible explanations are mentioned. A means " open the food pits " and is derived from a festival that celebrated two tribes through a marriage to celebrate their union centuries ago.

A free translation of the word Ngaruawahia ( Wahia Nga rua ) means on the other hand, in Māori "place of two rivers ", possibly a reference to the confluent rivers here Waipa River and the Waikato River.

Ngaruawahia is located 20 km northwest of Hamilton. The population was 5,250 at the census (1996 ), 4938 (2001) and 5106 (2006)

After the invasion of Waikato in 1863, the British named the place in Newcastle, but soon returned to the original name.

Ngaruawahia is home to the Kingitanga, one directed to the formation of a monarchy movement of Māori. It was the official residence of the Māori Queen Te Atairangikaahu.

Tūrangawaewae Marae, a significant marae ( sacred place ) of Māori is located on the east bank of the Waikato River in Ngaruawahia.

On 14 March 1998 the train No. 235 derailed after a shifted charge of the train on a bridge over the River Waitako. The derailed cars piled up on the superstructure of the bridge and damaged it considerably. A month later, another accident occurred by a vehicle traveling on the wrong track train.

In the city there are several sports teams. Ngaruawahia United, known as "The Green Machine", is the local football club. It was founded in 1968 and in 2007 had ten junior teams and four senior teams and a women's team. The team of men and their reserve team playing in the first division of the Northern League.