Waikaretu

Waikaretu or Waikāretu is a rural community and caving area in the Waikato District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 49 kilometres south-west of Tuakau.[1] Meshblock 0846300 had a population of 48 in 2013 and the south side of Waikāretu, meshblock 0849001, had 63.[2]

Waikāretu
Hamlet
Waikapakapa Stream waterfall, Waikāretu
Waikāretu
Coordinates: 37.54120°S 174.82918°E / -37.54120; 174.82918
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
Territorial authorityWaikato District
Elevation
90 m (300 ft)
Population
 (2013)
 • Total111

The area features the 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) long Nikau Cave, which has limestone pillars, stalactites and stalagmites.[1] Ninety minute guided tours are available, which often be wet and muddy.[3] There is a visitor cafe, and there are several accommodation options nearby.[4] A British analysis of TripAdvisor reviews in 2020 identified the cave as one of New Zealand's best secret tourist spots.[5][6]

A local farmstay also provides guided horse treks.[7]

Waikāretu translates as "waters of the kāretu grass"; wai means water; and kāretu is a sweet-scented grass.[8]

History

20th century

The current Waikaretu settlement was established with the opening of a local school in 1924.[9]

The Wāikaretu War Memorial Hall was built in 1952. It has no Roll of Honour, but includes a plaque commemorating those who served in both World War I and World War II.[10]

Philip and Anne Woodward moved to the area in 1976, purchasing a 204 hectare sheep and dairy farm that included Nikau Cave. They opened the cave to the public in 1994, after their farming lease on a neighbouring 242 hectare block ended and they could no longer make enough money from farming and shearing services.[6][11]

21st century

By the 2010s the area featured several dairy farms, including the third-generation Whitford farm.[12]

In 2016, the Overseas Investment Office granted a Chinese company, Weihai Station, approval to buy 595 hectares of coastal land.[13] Part of the land will be used for a lodge and training facility, with the rest continuing to operate as a sheep and beef farm.[14] The company gave Waikaretu School $25,000 in grants between 2016 and 2020.[15]

Also in 2016, a secretive group began tunneling into the side of road searching for the skeletons of a mythical race of pre-Polynesian giants.[16] They called off the search in February 2020, after iwi, academics and the landowner raised concerns about the dig.[17]

Education

Waikaretu School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[18][19] with a roll of 25 as of March 2020.[20]

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See also

References
  1. Swarbrick, Nancy (11 June 2015). "Waikato places". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. "2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place". archive.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  3. Ell, Sarah (2 September 2017). "Into the deep caves". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Weekend Magazine.
  4. "Nikau Cave and Cafe". nikaucave.co.nz. Nikau Cave & Cafe - New Zealand Glowworm Cave.
  5. "Tourist data points to little-known island in Hauraki Gulf as New Zealand's top hidden gem". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald. 9 January 2020.
  6. Sabin, Brook (8 January 2020). "New Zealand's best secret spots revealed". Stuff. Stuff Travel.
  7. "Wild west weekend in Waikaretu Valley". Australian Provincial Newspapers. The New Zealand Herald. 15 June 2003.
  8. "Waikaretu". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  9. Blomfield, Bruce (1999). Waikaretu Celebrates 75 Years. Waikaretu.
  10. "Waikāretu war memorial hall". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 17 February 2017.
  11. "An underground fantasyland". Stuff. Stuff Travel. 5 January 2017.
  12. Chivers, Luke (25 January 2019). "Sheep farming: it's in our nature". Global HQ. Farmers Weekly.
  13. Anthony, John (6 January 2016). "Chinese company Weihai Station to buy large farm west of Auckland". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  14. Reid, Catherin. "Case 201420087 - Weihai Station Limited". linz.govt.nz. Land Information New Zealand.
  15. "School Charter - Waikaretu School" (PDF). waikaretu.school.nz. Waikaretu School.
  16. Strongman, Susan (14 February 2020). "Concerns over secret search for giants' bones near Huntly". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz.
  17. Strongman, Susan (17 February 2020). "Giant skeleton searchers call off dig". Radio New Zealand. rnz.co.nz.
  18. "Official School Website". waikaretu.school.nz.
  19. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  20. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.


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