The World's First Quiz on South Waikato

Answer: 50%

The cities or large towns of Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupo and Tauranga are only forty minutes drive from most of the district. Auckland is only 200 kilometres north.

Answer: Tokoroa

Tokoroa almost reached city status in the 1980's (18,000) and currently has a population of around 14,000.
Putaruru is the next biggest town and has a population of just under 4,000.
Tirau and Arapuni both have populations of fewer than 1,000. The seat of the South Waikato District Council is in Tokoroa.

Answer: 1860

Early map references were to the 'Tokoroa Plains'. The first settlement of the town took place around 1910. By 1948 the population had grown to 1100. In 2004 the population of the district was approximately 23,500. People from over 25 countries have made the South Waikato their home, settling mostly in Tokoroa.

Answer: Forestry

Most of the land in the South Waikato is used for growing, either pine trees or grass for the many dairy herds and other pastoral farming. Eight kilometres south of Tokoroa is Kinleith, site of a major Timber, Pulp and Paper Mill, which provides employment for many residents. Tourism is a growing industry and fishing in the many lakes, streams and rivers is very popular with locals and visitors alike.

There is plenty of wine drunk in the South Waikato but not much (if any) is produced here.

Answer: Lichfield

Lichfield is about 10 kilometres south of Putaruru, and 15 kilometres north of Tokoroa, it's almost at the centre of the South Waikato District. Jones Landing is a popular and pretty spot for picnics, fishing, swimming and boating.

Answer: 0

At the beginning of 2005 there were no traffic lights in the South Waikato district. Tirau, Putaruru, Lichfield and Tokoroa are all on State Highway 1 - the main highway from Auckland to Wellington. Roundabouts control the traffic in the towns where needed.

Answer: Water

Putaruru is the closest settlement to the Te Waihou Walkway, home of the Blue Springs. The crystal clear spring water is bottled in town, and sold and marketed as "Pump" water. It is the source of 60% of New Zealand's bottled water! Putaruru also holds a national woodturning exhibition - TurNZ - here you can see some of the best examples of woodturning in the world.

Answer: Arapuni

The Arapuni Power Station powerhouse is protected under the Historic Places Trust. If you are brave enough you can cross the suspended footbridge or swing bridge, it is 152 metres long and has a slope of 8 metres. It was erected in 1925 to enable easy access for the power station employees who lived at Arapuni Village. You get a great view of the surging water, power station and picturesque bush from it.

Answer: Trout

The Waikato River has an abundant supply of brown trout, which migrate upriver into the many smaller streams. Rainbow trout are resident all year round they are generally easier to catch as they are a greedy fish. Many of the lakes are restocked with trout yearly, so the keen angler is sure to catch something.
The South Waikato District Council website has information on the best places to try.
Salmon are only found in the South Island and snapper and kahawai are salt water fish.

Answer: Tirau

The sheepdog is the town's Information Centre and was built to complement the large sheep next door.
Tirau was first settled in the late 1880's as Oxford but in 1895 it was renamed Tirau to avoid confusion with Oxford in the South Island. By the end of the 1980's the banks, post office, baker and chemist had all closed. Fortunately local residents thought it was worth saving and transformed it into a popular tourist destination well known for its antique and local craft shops and fine cafes. Today many of the businesses have interesting and unique corrugated iron creations advertising their wares. See a picture of the big sheep and the big dog here - http://www.tirauinfo.co.nz/
I have mentioned some of the unique and interesting attractions and facts about the South Waikato and hope that you are inspired to visit one day or to virtually visit on the internet.