Ruakura

Coordinates: 37°46′28.74″S 175°18′37.07″E / 37.7746500°S 175.3102972°E / -37.7746500; 175.3102972
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Ruakura
Suburb
Ruakura State Farm in 1921 (homestead and stables in foreground)
Ruakura State Farm in 1921
(homestead and stables in foreground)
Map
Coordinates: 37°46′28.74″S 175°18′37.07″E / 37.7746500°S 175.3102972°E / -37.7746500; 175.3102972
CountryNew Zealand
CityHamilton, New Zealand
Local authorityHamilton City Council
Electoral wardEast Ward
Established1888
Area
[1]
 • Land902 ha (2,229 acres)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total2,560
Enderley Fairview Downs Eureka
Claudelands
Ruakura
 Newstead
Hamilton East Hillcrest Silverdale

Ruakura is a semi-rural suburb of Hamilton City, in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The University of Waikato is nearby.

The area lies to the east of urban Hamilton and to the west of State Highway 1B (a variant of State Highway 1 which avoids the urban area).

Ruakura Agriculture Research Centre[edit]

Waikato Agricultural College and Model Farm was set up in 1888,[3] so that Ruakura is now synonymous with the Ruakura Agriculture Research Centre, the location of institutes such as AgResearch and Plant & Food Research. Areas of AgResearch's research at Ruakura include animal molecular biology (genomics and cloning), reproductive technologies, agricultural systems modelling, land management, dairy science, meat science, food processing technology and safety, and animal behaviour and welfare. Plant & Food Research's site in Hamilton is home to its blueberry nursery, its Bioengineering Group and its Food and Biological Chemistry laboratory. Work is also carried out on biological control agents and plant fertilizer (Ruakura solution).[4] The Waikato region is a major contributor to New Zealand's agricultural-based economy, and Ruakura has an important role in that industry.

The Ruakura Agriculture Research Centre is on land owned by the Waikato Tainui, to whom it was returned by the Crown as part of their 1995 Waikato Raupatu Land Settlement.

The Waikato Regional Council included a majority of the land at Ruakura in the proposed Regional Policy Statement (PWRPS) as a future employment area. The Hamilton City Council Proposed District Plan gave effect to the PWRPS incorporating the Ruakura structure plan. The long-term plan for Ruakura is that it will be New Zealand's largest integrated commercial and lifestyle development anchored by a freight and logistics hub.[citation needed]

Demographics[edit]

Ruakura covers 9.02 km2 (3.48 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,560 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 284 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006831—    
2013900+1.15%
20181,158+5.17%
Source: [5]

Ruakura had a population of 1,158 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 258 people (28.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 327 people (39.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 189 households, comprising 549 males and 612 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female. The median age was 20.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 132 people (11.4%) aged under 15 years, 666 (57.5%) aged 15 to 29, 312 (26.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (4.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 61.1% European/Pākehā, 13.7% Māori, 5.4% Pacific peoples, 27.2% Asian, and 4.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 39.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.0% had no religion, 30.8% were Christian, 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 5.7% were Hindu, 2.3% were Muslim, 2.1% were Buddhist and 3.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 240 (23.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 51 (5.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $10,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 105 people (10.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 300 (29.2%) people were employed full-time, 174 (17.0%) were part-time, and 69 (6.7%) were unemployed.[5]

In the 2018 census a new Ruakura area was created, covering the University and a rural area on the city fringe. It is 9.02 km2 (3.48 sq mi).[6] Up to 2013 Ruakura was part of the 8.22 km2 (3.17 sq mi) Newstead area, which covered a similar area, but excluded the university.[7] As shown below, the change resulted in a much larger, younger and poorer population in 2018 than previously and younger than the 37.4 years of the national average. 61.1% were European, 27.2% Asian and 13.7% Māori.[8] Only 3 people lived in meshblock 0955300, at the Research Centre, in 2013.[7]

Population Median income
Year Ruakura Newstead Median age Households Local NZ
2001 159 30.5 51 $24,200 $18,500
2006 831 174 41.5 57 $32,500 $24,100
2013 900 216 36.2 81 $33,800 $27,900
2018 1,158 20.6 189 $10,400 $31,800

Education[edit]

Tai Wananga is a co-educational state secondary school located in Ruakura.[9][10] It had a roll of 155.[11]

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Toku Mapihi Maurea is a coeducational full primary school (years 1–8) with a roll of 96.[12] The school teaches primarily in the Māori language.[13]

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of February 2024.[14]

Ruakura Junction railway station[edit]

Railway at Ruakura

Ruakura had a railway station from 1 October 1884 to 1 January 1967[15] at the junction of the East Coast Main Trunk and the Cambridge Branch. The branch had its first public train on 8 October 1884.[16] Ruakura was 8.17 km (5.08 mi) west of Eureka and 3.94 km (2.45 mi) east of Claudelands.[17] it was 2.57 km (1.60 mi) north of Mongaonui (or Mongonui), later renamed Newstead.[15] When the line opened, Ruakura station was described as an island in a swamp, with no road connection.[18] In 2020 reopening as a "passenger rail Metro Station" was put forward as a COVID-19 recovery scheme, as part of a $150m scheme to relay tracks to Cambridge.[19]

  Former adjoining stations  
Claudelands
Line open, station closed 		  East Coast Main Trunk
New Zealand Railways Department 		  Eureka
Line open, station closed
Terminus   Cambridge Branch   Newstead
Line open, station closed

Employment area[edit]

In 2016, approval was given to create an employment area, with an inland port, served by the railway and the Hamilton Bypass.[20] The development will cover 485 ha (1,200 acres), including a 31 ha (77 acres) inland port to the west of the Research Centre.[21] Opening was planned in 2021.[22] In 2021, further developments for Ruakura have been planned to expand it as a residential and logistics suburb,[23] in addition to integrating Ruakura Road into the Waikato Expressway and improving business between regions outside of Waikato.[24][25][23] Businesses in the area include a Kmart Distribution Centre and cold storage depots.[26]

In July 2022, the New Zealand division of Kmart announced plans to shift their Auckland distribution centre to Hamilton,[27] with permission of the Waikato-Tainui iwi.[27] It has since opened in September 2023,[28][29][30] becoming the new North Island distribution centre for Kmart.[29][30]

Inland port[edit]

The 9 ha (22 acres), $60m, Ruakura Inland Port, joint venture of Tainui Group Holdings and Port of Tauranga, had its first trains from Tauranga and Auckland on 3 August 2023. It has two 800 m (2,600 ft) sidings (about 90 containers per train), served by 2 trains a week.[26]

Residential areas[edit]

The 2016 Structure Plan included residential development to the north and south of the employment areas.[31]

Greenhill Park[edit]

Greenhill Park is a medium density suburb at the north west of the development, begun in 2016,[32] It adjoins Fairview Downs. A 110kV transmission line was undergrounded in 2020 to make way for more housing.[33]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "SUBMISSION ON VARIATION 1 RUAKURA" (PDF). Hamilton City Council. December 2015.
  4. ^ Smith, G. S.; Johnston, C. M.; Cornforth, I. S. (1983). "Comparison of nutrient solutions for growth of plants in sand culture". The New Phytologist. 94 (4): 537–548. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1983.tb04863.x. ISSN 1469-8137.
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ruakura (179200). 2018 Census place summary: Ruakura
  6. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  7. ^ a b "2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place". archive.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "2018 Census place summaries". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Official School Website". ruakura.taiwananga.co.nz.
  10. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  11. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  12. ^ Education Counts: Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Toku Mapihi Maurea
  13. ^ "Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Toku Mapihi Maurea – 27/01/2015". Education Review Office. 27 January 2015.
  14. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  15. ^ a b Scoble, Juliet. "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  16. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 AUCKLAND STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 October 1884. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ^ Yonge, John Roger; Company, Quail Map (1993). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas. Quail Map Company. ISBN 9780900609923.
  18. ^ "The Opening. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 October 1884. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  19. ^ "URBAN GROWTH PROGRAMME INITIATIVES" (PDF). Hamilton City Council. 3 April 2020.
  20. ^ "History". Ruakura. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Pictures reveal true size of Ruakura Inland Port". Stuff. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Media Hub". Ruakura. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Major road closures coming to Hamilton's Ruakura Rd". NZ Herald.
  24. ^ "Ruakura Road upgrade". Hamilton City Council.
  25. ^ "Ruakura". Hamilton City Council.
  26. ^ a b "First goods trains welcomed as Ruakura Inland Port set to transform freight moves across Upper North Island". www.ruakura.co.nz. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  27. ^ a b https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/300642535/kmarts-massive-switch-from-auckland-to-hamilton
  28. ^ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/497445/kmart-opens-first-distribution-centre-at-ruakura-superhub
  29. ^ a b https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/132875079/kmart-opens-giant-distribution-centre-in-hamilton
  30. ^ a b https://www.tgh.co.nz/news-and-resources/kmart-blessed-open-and-operational/
  31. ^ "Figure 2-14: Ruakura Structure Plan – Land Use" (PDF). Hamilton City Council. 21 October 2016.
  32. ^ "Hearing to consider Variation 1 – Ruakura to the Hamilton City Council Proposed District Plan" (PDF). Hamilton City Council. 15 July 2016.
  33. ^ "Developer spends $15m to put high voltage lines underground". Stuff. Retrieved 15 April 2020.

External links[edit]

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