Waimangaroa

Waimangaroa is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand.

Waimangaroa
Waimangaroa
Coordinates: 41°42′46″S 171°45′46″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictBuller District

The township lies on the south-west bank of the Waimangaroa River, at the western foot of the Denniston Plateau. It is 17 kilometres (11 mi) to the north east of Westport and 13 km south-east of Granity. The abandoned coaltown of Denniston is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the south-east.[1][2] The Bridle Track, a scenic bush track, leads south-east along the Denniston Incline into the foothills of the Mt William Range, to Denniston.[3] The Stockton mine, a large open cast coal mine, is operated in the vicinity by Solid Energy.[4]

Waimangaroa viewed from the Denniston road

The Ngakawau Branch, a branch line railway, runs through the town. It opened to Waimangaroa on 5 August 1876; it formerly ran to Seddonville but now terminates in Ngakawau. From 1877 until 1967, Waimangaroa was also the junction for the Conns Creek Branch, which ran east alongside the Waimangaroa River to the foot of the Denniston Incline. Passenger services ceased on the Conns Creek Branch in 1931 and Ngakawau Branch on 14 October 1946. Since this time, the railway through Waimangaroa has almost solely conveyed coal.

The beaches to the west have dangerous currents and are not safe for swimming.[5]

Education

Waimangaroa School was a coeducational full primary school (years 1-8). The school celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2004.[6] It closed permanently in 2012[7] and is now in private ownership. Waimangaroa children now attend schools in Westport.

Notable people
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gollark: Ideas which spread well live. Ideas which don't die. It's not exactly the same.
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gollark: Not actually correct fact.
gollark: In some cases the ideas which spread well are just, say, contentious political stuff which you feel like you have to tell everyone.

References
  1. Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 63. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 141. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. "Denniston walking tracks". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  4. "Stockton (Opencast)". Solid Energy. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  5. Brathwaite, Errol (1981). The Companion Guide to Westland. Auckland: Collins. p. 80. ISBN 0-00-216967-3.
  6. "Jubilees & reunions: Waimangaroa School, 125th Jubilee". Education Gazette New Zealand. 83 (3). 22 February 2004.
  7. News, Kim Fulton of the Westport (2012-11-30). "Waimangaroa school to close". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
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