Toko

Toko
Toko
	Toko
	Coordinates: 39°20′12″S 174°23′27″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Taranaki
District	Stratford District
Population (2013)
• Total	1,188

Toko is a small rural settlement 10 kilometres east of Stratford, New Zealand, at the intersection of East Road (State Highway 43) and Toko Road. It is located on a railway, the Stratford–Okahukura Line, the western portion of which was operated as a branch line known as the Toko Branch prior to the line's completion. The Toko Stream flows through the area to join the Patea River.[1][2]

Last gas for 150km

According to the 2013 New Zealand census, the Toko statistical area has a population of 1,188, an increase of 24 people since the 2006 census. The statistical area covers a large region to the east of Stratford, not just the settlement of Toko.[3]

Geography

Toko is surrounded by extremely fertile land, being located on the periphery of the Taranaki ringplain and adjacent to the Patea River. The area is drained by the Toko Stream, and its tributaries the Manawaiwiri and Waiwiri Streams. Once covered in wetlands, since settlement the area has been drained to take advantage of the fertile soils. Dairy farming predominates the surrounding land use, with some sheep and beef farming in the steeper hill country.

History

Toko was established in the 1890s, and served as an important centre for the developing hinterland. The settlement took on the nature of a village, containing a railway station, a dairy factory, a church, a hall, a hotel, a sawmill, a trucking depot, a playcentre, a sports facility, and a number of other businesses and numerous dwellings. Toko School was established in 1893, and located on a site approximately 2 km east of Toko at the intersection of East Road and Wawiri Road.

Like other rural centres, Toko went into decline in the latter part of the 20th century. The railway station, dairy factory and sawmill all closed. However the factory buildings are now used for an engineering business, and the church, hall, domain, hotel, trucking depot, and an automotive workshop are still being used for business and social activities.

Born in Toko

Jack Walter, All Black and Taranaki rugby football representative
Toss Woollaston, New Zealand painter (1910–1998)
Brian Smith, jazz musician (1939 - )

Other notable residents

Sylvia Ashton-Warner, (as a child) New Zealand writer, poet and educator

Education

Toko School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 125 students as of March 2020.[4][5] The school was founded in 1893.[6]

Notes

Peter Dowling (editor) (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, pp. map 35, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, pp. map 85, ISBN 1-877333-20-4
2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Toko
"New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
Education Counts: Toko School
Cliff Lawrence, ed. (1993), Toko School and district centennial, 1893-1993

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External links

Toko School website

References

Church, Ian (1990), The Stratford Inheritance. Heritage Press Ltd., Waikanae, New Zealand.