Did You Know?

Te Awamutu was a major site during the New Zealand Land Wars of the 19^th Century – you can see the flat-topped hill where there was a fort.

The name ‘Te Awamutu’ means ‘river cut short’, since the river above this point was unsuitable for canoes.

Alexandra Street is the main throughfare, so named because it was once the main road linking Te Awamutu to Alexandra (since re-named Pirongia to avoid confusion with the town Alexandra based in the S. Island).

The town has numerous facilities, including the Te Awamutu Events Centre (housing many recreational facilities, including an indoor swimming pool) and the Te Awamutu Museum (housing a fine collection of Maori toanga).

Te Awamutu is widely known for its Rose Gardens, hence its title ‘The Rose Town of New Zealand’.

The town’s best known sons are the Finn brothers, whose musical careers have stretched from Split Enz, through the internationally successful Crowded House, to their current solo and collaborative works.

In the 2001 Census, the population of Te Awamutu was almost 13,500.  The Waipa District has a resident population of approx. 40,000, fairly evenly mixed between urban and rural.

The District has a rich agrigultural base and the National Agricultural Fieldays attract visitors worldwide.