Raetihi

Raetihi is a municipality in the Ruapehu District on the central North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the junction of State Highways 4 and 49, 11 km west of Ohakune. At the 2006 census it had 1,035 inhabitants; this is a decline of 3.4 %, or 33 inhabitants compared to the census of 2001. Already between 1996 and 2001 the population increased by 8.2 % (99 people) had fallen. 58.2 % of residents identified themselves as Māori in 2006.

From December 18th 1917 to January 1st 1968 Raetihi Raetihi Branch has been prepared by, one served by the main line of the North Island, the North Iceland Main Trunk branching in Ohakune branch line. The station building was converted and restored in the Waimarino Museum. The museum has an archive of documents and photos from the wider community of Ruapehu.

Although Raetihi is a small country church today, it was a minor industrial center between 1900 and the 1950s. 1900, the city was the largest urban center of the King Country with nearly 4,500 inhabitants. Many sawmills were the main employers in the region. As the trees were cut down, and these included the agriculture was important, especially livestock and vegetable production. A cooperative dairy has already been established in 1903.

On March 18, 1918 Great fire destroyed about 200 homes, the same year the place was haunted by the Spanish flu.

The decline of the timber industry had a negative impact on the site. But He has recently experienced by tourism a slight upturn. Its proximity to Mount Ruapehu and popular ski resorts have caused the emergence of accommodation and cafes for the increasing number of visitors.