Huntly, New Zealand

Huntly (Template:Langx) (population Template:NZ population data 2018<ref name="NZ_population_data_2018" />) is a town in the Waikato district and region of the North Island of New Zealand. It was on State Highway 1 (until Huntly bypass opened in March 2020),<ref name="stuff-waikatoexpresswayopen">Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Convert south of Auckland and Template:Convert north of Hamilton. It is situated on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) railway (served by Te Huia since 6 April 2021 at a rebuilt Raahui Pookeka-Huntly Station)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and straddles the Waikato River. Huntly is within the Waikato District which is in the northern part of the Waikato region local government area.

History and culture

Originally settled by Māori, European migrants arrived in the area some time in the 1850s. The Huntly name was adopted in the 1870s when the postmaster named it after Huntly, Aberdeenshire, in Scotland. He used an old 'Huntley Lodge' stamp to stamp mail from the early European settlement. The word Lodge was later dropped and the spelling changed to also drop the additional 'e'.<ref>About Huntly – History Template:Webarchive (from the 'huntly.co.nz' website. Accessed 20 February 2008.)</ref>

The railway from Auckland reached Huntly in 1877, when the Huntly railway station was opened.

Huntly and its surrounding area is steeped in Māori history and falls within the rohe (tribal area) of Waikato-Tainui of the Tainui waka confederation. Ngāti Mahuta and Ngāti Whawhakia are the subtribes in the Huntly area. Waahi Pa in Huntly was the home of the Māori queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu and of her son the Māori king Tūheitia.

Rakaumanga Native School was established in 1896. It was moved to its present site in 1974 to make way for the building of Huntly Power Station.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It became one of the first bilingual schools (Māori/English) in New Zealand in 1984.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It became a kura kaupapa (total immersion, Māori as its first language) in 1994 and is now known by the name Te Whare Kura o Rakaumangamanga.

Marae

There are a number of marae in and around Huntly, affiliated with the Ngāti Kuiaarangi, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Tai and Ngāti Whāwhākia hapū: Kaitumutumu Marae and Ruateatea meeting house, Te Kauri Marae and Karaka meeting house, Te Ōhākī Marae and Te Ōhākī a Te Puea meeting house, and Waahi Pa and Tāne i te Pupuke meeting house.<ref name="tkmentry">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="maorimaps">Template:Cite web</ref>

In October 2020, the Government committed $2,584,751 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Waahoi Marae and 7 other Waikato Tainui marae, creating 40 jobs.<ref name="maraepgf">Template:Cite web</ref>

Horahora Marae and Maurea Marae are located north of Huntly at Rangiriri.<ref name="maorimaps" />

Demographics

Huntly covers Template:Convert<ref name="Area">Template:Cite web</ref> and had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2018 as of Template:NZ population data 2018 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km².

Huntly had a population of 8,232 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 285 people (3.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,335 people (19.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 4,098 males, 4,104 females and 27 people of other genders in 2,649 dwellings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,956 people (23.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,650 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 3,450 (41.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,179 (14.3%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 51.0% European (Pākehā); 53.5% Māori; 11.8% Pasifika; 7.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.3%, Māori language by 18.5%, Samoan by 0.9%, and other languages by 7.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 28.5% Christian, 1.7% Hindu, 0.9% Islam, 4.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.5%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 654 (10.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,486 (55.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 2,136 (34.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 309 people (4.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,889 (46.0%) people were employed full-time, 624 (9.9%) were part-time, and 315 (5.0%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">Template:Cite web</ref>

Individual statistical areas

Name	Area (km2)	Population	Density (per km2)	Dwellings	Median age	Median income
Huntly West	5.75	3,192	555	945	30.5 years	$32,400<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Huntly East	6.79	3,474	512	1,131	35.9 years	$35,400<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Huntly South	4.03	1,566	389	573	39.9 years	$34,700<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
New Zealand					38.1 years	$41,500

Huntly Rural

The statistical area of Huntly Rural, which includes Ohinewai, Ruawaro and Glen Afton, covers Template:Convert<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2023 SA2 as of Template:NZ population data 2023 SA2 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km².

Template:Historical populations Huntly Rural had a population of 2,277 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (2.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 225 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,209 males, 1,065 females and 3 people of other genders in 870 dwellings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 432 people (19.0%) aged under 15 years, 375 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,095 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 375 (16.5%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 HR"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 78.4% European (Pākehā); 30.0% Māori; 4.0% Pasifika; 4.3% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori language by 9.0%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 5.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023 HR"/>

Religious affiliations were 24.2% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 2.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.3%, and 8.2% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 216 (11.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,068 (57.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 561 (30.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 165 people (8.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 960 (52.0%) people were employed full-time, 267 (14.5%) were part-time, and 57 (3.1%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 HR">Template:Cite web</ref>

The south end of Huntly, showing parts of the open-pit mining typical of the area

Major industries

Huntly Power Station is a large gas/coal-fired power station, prominently situated on the western bank of the Waikato River. It is New Zealand's largest thermal power station, situated in the area which is New Zealand's largest producer of coal, producing over 10,000 tonnes a day.<ref>Coal Overview Template:Webarchive (from the 'minerals.co.nz' website. Accessed 20 February 2008.)</ref>

Huntly is also surrounded by farmland and lakes (many of them former open-pit mines) which are used for coarse fishing, yachting and waterskiing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coal

The Waikato coalfield is formed of 30 -35m year old Eocene-Oligocene rocks. The lowest coal measures are the Taupiri Seams, worked at Rotowaro, the upper Kupakupa and Renown Seams having been largely worked out.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The area has a very long history of coal mining, with both open cast and classical mines operating or having operated here.<ref name="TE">Huntly (from Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966 Edition. Accessed 20 February 2008.)</ref> The major New Zealand clients for the mined coal are the power station and the New Zealand Steel mill at Glenbrook.

The first coal to be mined was half a ton at Taupiri in 1849,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> followed by 32 tons in 1850,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> opposite Kupa Kupa, about Template:Convert south of Huntly,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and coal was also discovered at Papahorohoro, near Taupiri.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, it wasn't being exploited when the geologist, Ferdinand von Hochstetter, visited it in 1859.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was used to fuel steamers during the 1863 invasion of the Waikato.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kupakupa mine was started in 1864<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and produced 11,000 tons by 1866.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The area was confiscated in 1865.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was auctioned by government in 1867.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Taupiri Coal Co was producing 1,300 tons a month by 1879,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> up from 5,300 tons a year in 1878.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A mine across the river from Kupakupa was opened in 1879.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 12 September 1914 at the Ralph Mine in Huntly, a naked light caused an explosion that killed 43 coal miners.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After the Pukemiro railway opened in 1915, mines opened at Pukemiro, Glen Afton, Rotowaro, Waikōkōwai and Renown. Open cast mining began west of Huntly during World War 2, and later an opencast mine at Kimihia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

O’Reilly’s Opencast Mine

This was the last mine operating in Huntly (off Riverview Rd),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> producing 24,708 tonnes in 2016.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> It was a privately owned mine, opened in 1957<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and mainly selling to New Zealand Steel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It closed in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Puke Mine and Rotowaro are the only mines still open in the Huntly area.<ref name=":3" />

Huntly East Coalmine

Solid Energy closed this Huntly mine on 22 October 2015,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> saying it was losing $500,000 a month. It opened in 1978, produced a peak of 465,000 tonnes in 2004<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> and was digging about 450,000 tonnes a year<ref name=":0" /> until production was cut to 100,000 tonnes in September 2013.<ref name=":1" /> The mine entrance was in Huntly East, but by 2012 all mining was west of the Waikato, with roadways 150 metres below the river, the two 8 to 20 metre thick sub-bituminous seams being 150 to 400 metres deep. In 2012 it was estimated that 7 million tonnes of recoverable coal remained in the consented mining areas, with a further 12 million available for future expansion. Coal was mined by remote-controlled continuous miners and taken to the entrance in shuttle cars and then by conveyor belt. It continued to Glenbrook via the Kimihia branch railway and the NIMT. It employed about 200 in 2012,<ref name=":0" /> but was down to 68 at closure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Kimihia Wetland was created on the former bed of Lake Kimihia to cope with subsidence and treat water from Huntly East Mine.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Bricks

Clay suited for bricks lies on top of some of the coal deposits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brick making began in 1884, Huntly Brick and Fireclay was established in 1911 and Shinagawa Refractories continues on the site<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at the south end of the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nearby, Clay Bricks operate a brickworks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rugby league

Huntly has a proud rugby league history – at one time the town had four rugby league clubs: Taniwharau, Huntly South, Huntly United and Rangiriri Eels. Taniwharau has been one of the most successful clubs having won 11 straight Waikato premierships during the 1970s and 1980s. Taniwharau also won the inaugural Waicoa Bay championship in 2002 and again in 2007 a year in which they went through the season unbeaten; a feat that has never been achieved before at the Waikato premier level. The Waicoa Bay championship is a combined rugby league competition involving clubs from Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastlines.

A number of New Zealand players have come out of Huntly including pre war players Tom Timms, Richard Trautvetter and Len Mason who also, after the 1926 Kiwi tour of Great Britain finished his playing career at Wigan, playing a record 365 games in 9 years including a winning Challenge Cup final at Wembley in 1929. Post war players include Albert Hambleton, Reg Cooke, Graeme Farrar, Roger Tait, Ted Baker, Paul Ravlich, Tawera Nikau (Rangiriri) and, more recently, Wairangi Koopu (Taniwharau) and Lance Hohaia (Taniwharau). Other Kiwi players to come out of Huntly include Andy Berryman, Don Parkinson, Rick Muru, Kevin Fisher and Vaun O'Callaghan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The town has also produced numerous NZ Māori Rugby league representatives and two international referees; Arthur Harlock and Roland (Roly) Avery.

Bridges

Tainui Bridge

Rail Bridge After a first pile driving ceremony in 1911,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the punt (opened 18 September 1894)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was replaced in 1915 by a road/rail bridge serving the Pukemiro railway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tainui Bridge is a 7-span bowstring-arch<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> for road traffic opened in 1959, when the 1915 bridge became rail only, and a footbridge was attached to its side.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tainui Bridge was strengthened in 2005<ref name=":2" /> to allow 500 tonne turbines<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to be carried to the Power Station,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> work which gained an award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Seismic strengthening was done in 2011.<ref name=":2" /> The bridge was repainted in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

A footbridge across Shand Lane, the 1978 SH1 bypass<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and NIMT links Glasgow St with Main St.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 14-tonne central span was raised from 4.8 to 5.25m in 2010 to provide clearance for Te Uku construction trucks. It was also closed twice in 2015, firstly for repainting,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> then again when the arm of an excavator on a truck hit the bridge,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> requiring also temporary closure of SH1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Cameras and extra rails have been installed to improve safety,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> following stone throwing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Crossings navbox

Education

Huntly has five co-educational schools. The rolls given here are as of Template:NZ school roll data

Huntly College is a state secondary school covering years 9 to 13,<ref>Template:TKI</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data. The college was opened in 1953.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Huntly School and Huntly West School are state full primary schools covering years 1 to 8,<ref>Template:TKI</ref><ref>Template:TKI</ref> with rolls of Template:NZ school roll data and Template:NZ school roll data respectively. Huntly School opened in 1879, and was rebuilt after a fire in 1906.<ref name="Schools">Template:Cite web</ref> Huntly West opened in 1856.<ref name="Schools"/>

St Anthony's Catholic School is a state-integrated full primary school covering years 1 to 8,<ref>Template:TKI</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data. It opened in 1914.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga is a state composite school covering years 1 to 13.<ref>Template:TKI</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data. It provides a Māori language immersive education.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It opened in 1896 as Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga, a native primary school, and became state-integrated in 1969. It moved to its present site in 1974. From 1979 a Māori language course was taught, and the school became officially bilingual in 1984. The school moved to total immersion in the Māori language between 1989 and 1992. It became a kura kaupapa Māori school in 1994, and added full secondary education in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The suburb of Kimihia also has a primary school, Kimihia School.

In popular culture

Huntly features in the 2025 film A Minecraft Movie, where it stands in for the fictional town of Chuglass, Idaho.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Lakes – Hakanoa, Kimihia, Puketirini, Waahi
• Railway stations – Huntly, Kimihia

External links

• Original website for Huntly Template:Webarchive
• Official Huntly Website
• Alexander Turnbull Library punt c1910, aerial photos of bridges – 1954, Tainui construction 1958, 1961 from west, from north, 1963, 1991 with bypass
• Auckland Weekly News photos – punt in 1913, road/rail bridge – 1911, 1912 [1] [2], 1913 [3] [4], 1933 from the air
• 1952 photo of miners train on Huntly Bridge
• River water quality at Huntly Bridge