Taranaki (region), New Zealand
Taranaki is a region located on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, characterized by its wide peninsula and bordered by the Tasman Sea. The region covers an area of 7,213 square kilometers and is dominated by the striking dormant volcano, Mount Taranaki, which stands at 2,158 meters and holds cultural significance for the Māori people. Known for its scenic landscapes, Taranaki features lush dairy farms and offers a variety of recreational activities, including water sports along its coast and skiing on Mount Taranaki.
The region's economy is heavily reliant on dairy farming, oil and gas production, and various manufacturing industries. With a temperate climate and fertile soil, it is ideally suited for agriculture. The population of Taranaki has seen growth, with notable urban centers like New Plymouth, which serves as the commercial hub, and other towns including Hawera and Stratford. The demographics reflect a diverse community, with a significant Māori population alongside European and Asian ethnicities. Taranaki's rich history includes early Māori settlement, European colonization, and significant cultural developments, making it a vibrant area of New Zealand with a blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Taranaki (region), New Zealand
The Taranaki region is located on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. Sitting on a wide peninsula, it is surrounded by the Tasman Sea. It borders the Manawatu-Wanganui region to the east and the Waikato region to the north. Its land area is 7,213 square kilometres. The snow-capped Mount Taranaki (also known as Mount Egmont) dominates the region. At 2,158 metres, the dormant volcano with a classic, nearly symmetrical cone shape is the second-highest mountain in New Zealand.
In addition to Mount Taranaki, which is a sacred site to Māoris, the region is known for its scenic landscapes, dairy farms and recreational activities. Water sports are popular in coastal areas, with strong ocean winds making many sites ideal for surfing. Snowboarding and skiing are popular of the slopes of Mount Taranaki. Egmont National Park is the home of two heritage sites.
The majority of the population lives in urban areas, especially New Plymouth. The commercial centre of the region, New Plymouth is a deepwater port and gateway for international travel. Other major towns are Hawera and Stratford. Stratford is the seat of the Taranaki Regional Council, which serves a large portion of the Taranaki region.
Historical Perspective
The first inhabitants of the Taranaki region were Māoris who arrived in the area between 1250 and 1300 CE. Intertribal conflicts broke out in the early nineteenth century and resulted in many Māoris migrating south to other regions. European traders and missionaries arrived beginning in the late 1820s. In 1841 the Plymouth Company sent the first of six ships with British settlers to the area, then given the name New Plymouth (originally known as Ngāmotu in te reo Māori); the surrounding region changed its name to Taranaki in 1858. By 1843 over a thousand British immigrants had settled in the region.
Land wars broke out between the European colonists and Māoris in 1860. The colonial government established military posts throughout the region, and European settlement soared. It expanded even further with the implementation of a national immigration policy. The settlers cleared forests for dairy farming and built roads and railways. In 1881 the land wars ended when the colonial forces took control of Parihaka, the largest Māori village in the region. Within ten years (1871–81), the European population of the region had tripled and the Māori population had significantly decreased.
Geography and Climate
Mount Taranaki sits on a volcanic ring plain made of volcanic debris near the centre of the Taranaki region. Two smaller volcanoes, Pouākai and Kaitake, lie in a line to its north-west. To the east is the Taranaki Fault and a series of rugged hills. The coastal areas have rich, fertile soil that supports the region's dairy farming.
Once heavily forested, most of the bush and trees in the region were burnt and cleared as humans settled the area. Over time, the native plants were replaced with exotic grasses that make up the present-day pasturelands. The main remaining forested areas are found in Egmont National Park, the site of Mount Taranaki, and a few reserve areas.
Water is a plentiful resource in the region. Multiple rivers flow down from the snow-capped peak of Mount Taranaki, and wetlands are found on the ring plain. Like the forests, most wetlands have been developed and less than 10 per cent of the original wetlands remain in the region.
Many Taranaki native species are now extinct or endangered. Rare native species found in the region include the gold-striped gecko and short-tailed bat.
The Taranaki region has a moist and temperate climate, with plentiful sunshine and strong winds. Temperatures in the summer tend to be in the low 20 degrees Celsius; temperatures in the winter are usually in the teens.
Economy
The dairy and oil and gas industries are the major contributors to the economy of the Taranaki region. Other significant industries include food processing and other manufacturing, hydroelectricity, horticulture and service industries.
The region's fertile soil and moist climate are ideal for raising dairy cattle. The industry was established in Taranaki by the earliest European settlers. By 2023 the region had more than 445,508 dairy cattle. Other livestock includes sheep, beef cattle and deer. There are numerous food-processing plants, especially for milk and milk by-products, but also for beef, poultry and other meats, bakery products and specialty foods. The horticulture industry includes avocados, nuts, tamarillos and greens.
Considered the energy capital of New Zealand, the Taranaki region is the nation's largest producer of petroleum. Located on the Taranaki Basin, the region has numerous oil and natural gas fields, both inland and offshore. By the mid-2020s, there were about twenty producing fields, with increasing oil and gas explorations. The region was on the forefront in developing hydroelectricity and has generated electricity from rivers flowing from Mount Taranaki since the early twentieth century.
Manufacturing includes small goods, jewellery and silverware, steel fabrication, aluminium rolling, machinery and equipment. The service industries employing the largest share of the work force are heath care and social assistance; professional, scientific and technical services; and accommodation and food services.
Demographics
According to the 2023 Census, the Taranaki region's population increased 7.2 per cent from 117,561 in 2018 to 126,015 in 2023. The Māori made up 21.8 per cent of the population. Pacific people made up 2.6 per cent of the population. The majority of the population was of European ethnicity, with people of Asian ethnicity making up about 5.7 per cent of the population.
About 19 per cent of the population of the Taranaki region was age sixty-five or older, and 3.1 percent was under the age of fifteen per cent.
At the time of the 2018 Census, almost 12 per cent of the resident population reported being born overseas. The most common country of birth for people born overseas was England. Almost 2 per cent of Māoris reported being born overseas. After English, the most commonly spoken language was te reo Māori, which was spoken by almost 4 per cent of the population and about 18 per cent of the Māori population.
Bibliography
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Lambert, Ron. "Taranaki Places." Te Ara—The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 7 Sept. 2016, www.teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-places. Accessed 17 June 2024.
Lambert, Ron. "Taranaki Region." Te Ara—The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 3 Aug. 2015, www.teara.govt.nz/en/taranaki-region. Accessed 17 June 2024.
"Taranaki." New Zealand Now. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, New Zealand Government, 9 Jan. 2017, www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/regions-nz/taranaki. Accessed 17 June 2024.
"Taranaki: An Introduction." Tourism New Zealand, 8 Nov. 2016, media.newzealand.com/en/story-ideas/taranaki-an-introduction. Accessed 17 June 2024.
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"2023 Census Data Highlights: Taranaki Region." Scoop Independent News, 29 May 2024, www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2405/S01012/2023-census-data-highlights-taranaki-region.htm. Accessed 17 June 2024.