Stratford, New Zealand

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Template:Short description Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates

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Stratford (Template:Langx) is the only town in Stratford District, and the seat of the Taranaki region, in New Zealand's North Island. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki, approximately halfway between New Plymouth and Hāwera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki Region. The town has a population of Template:NZ population data 2018, making it the 62nd largest urban area in New Zealand (using the Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas 2018 (SSGA18)), and the fourth largest in Taranaki (behind New Plymouth, Hāwera and Waitara).

The Stratford District has a population of Template:NZ population data 2018, and a land area of Template:Cvt, which is divided between the Manawatū-Whanganui region (including the settlements of Whangamōmona, Marco and Tahora, 31.87% of its land area) and the Taranaki region (68.13% of its land area).

Climate

Stratford has a temperate Oceanic climate (Köppen Climate Classification: Cfb)<ref name="Climate data">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Weather box

Road and rail

Stratford is at the junction of State Highway 3 and State Highway 43.

On State Highway 3 New Plymouth is Template:Cvt north, Inglewood Template:Cvt north, Eltham Template:Cvt south and Hāwera Template:Cvt south.

On State Highway 43 Taumarunui is Template:Cvt to the east. This road is known as "The Forgotten World Highway", due to the scarcity of settlement along the road in contrast to its earlier history. A sign reads "No Petrol for Template:Cvt".

Stratford railway station is the junction of the Marton–New Plymouth and Stratford–Okahukura lines.

Population

Stratford is a rural service centre, serving the agricultural economy of its wider hinterland.

The population of the district peaked in 1961 at 11,300, and until the end of the century the town fluctuated between 5229 (2001) and 5664 (1996). The 21st century has seen significant economic growth and some associated population growth in the town.

Stats NZ describes Stratford as a small urban area, which covers Template:Convert.<ref name="Area">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It 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.

Template:Historical populations Stratford had a population of 6,330 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 444 people (7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 837 people (15.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,099 males, 3,219 females, and 15 people of other genders in 2,493 dwellings.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,248 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 1,071 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 2,655 (41.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,362 (21.5%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.0% European (Pākehā); 17.5% Māori; 2.2% Pasifika; 4.2% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 2.8%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 5.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 32.2% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.7%, and 10.0% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 567 (11.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,979 (58.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,542 (30.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 273 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,319 (45.6%) full-time, 654 (12.9%) part-time, and 141 (2.8%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Table alignment

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Dwellings Median age Median
income
Stratford North 3.42 2,169 634 840 41.0 years citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Stratford Central 2.77 2,175 785 924 43.0 years citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Stratford South 2.72 1,986 730 729 37.4 years citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

History and culture

Whakaahurangi

The Māori name for Stratford is Whakaahurangi, meaning to look to the sky. The name is taken from a story of the Ngāti Ruanui chieftainess/Puhi Ariki named Rua-pū-tahanga who fled her husband Whatihua from Waikato, travelling the track known as Te ara tapu o Ruaputahanga which stretches from Urenui down through Tariki, and ends near Patea. Here she stopped at the side of the Kahouri river near a fresh water spring. It is said she sat distraught and cried into the spring, naming it Te Puna Roimata o Ruaputahanga (The spring of Rua-pū-tahanga's tears), then camped overnight Template:Cvt east of the current town. Being a clear night, Rua-pū-tahanga lay contemplating the stars when slumber overtook her. Withdrawing in respect, her followers observed that their chieftainess slept "with her face to the sky". The site continued to be used as a camping place for Māori, the track she followed linking the south Taranaki tribes to those in north Taranaki, and further north to Kawhia. Each travelling party would recollect the story of Rua-pū-tahanga sleeping with her face to the sky.<ref>Gordon, W.F., Battersby, J.H., Richards, J.B., Kennedy, W.L., and Kelly, C.S.. Carved from the Bush: Stratford 1878-1928. 1928.</ref>

Whakaahurangi Marae, a marae (meeting ground) of the Ngāti Ruanui tribe and its Ahitahi sub-tribe, is located in Stratford. It includes a wharenui (meeting house), known as Te Whetū o Marama.<ref name="tkmentry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Tertiarysourceinline

Surveying

There is no record of Māori settlement in the vicinity of Stratford. Before British settlement the area was covered in dense forest and swamp.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Vogel schemes of the 1870s provided the necessary impetus to lead to the construction of a railway line south of New Plymouth, and the creation of road access at the same time, to open up access to the rich soils under the mountain.

In 1876, Taranaki Waste Lands Board assistant surveyor Edwin Stanley Brookes, Jnr. cut a meridian line from Waitara to the site of Stratford, and oversaw the subdivision of a block between the Manganui River and the Pātea River. The surveying of a new site for a town on the banks of the Pātea River was authorised on 11 June 1877, and the northern half of the town (above the Pātea River) was laid out by William Skinner in July. More lots were laid out by Peter Cheal in 1879, and in 1880 Skinner was directed to survey the southern half of the town.

Naming

File:Stratford clock tower Glockenspiel - Romeo and Juliet talking.jpg
Stratford clock tower "glockenspiel"

On 3 December 1877, the name Stratford-upon-Patea was adopted, on the motion of William Crompton of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board.Template:Cn The town was named after Stratford-upon-Avon due to similarities of the Patea River and the River Avon in Warwickshire.<ref name="heritagemag">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The connection to William Shakespeare's hometown led to the naming of 67 streets after Shakespearian characters from 27 of his plays.<ref name="heritagemag"/>

Today New Zealand's only glockenspiel clock tower plays the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet three times a day. The spoken words are provided via external loudspeakers - there is no carillon (multiple bells) as would be more typical for glockenspiels in towers.Template:Cn

Settlement and growth

Stratford was formally classified as a town in June 1878, and on 31 August 1878 an auction of 455 sections saw the first sections sold. By 1881 the population was 97, comprising 56 males and 41 females, with 22 houses. By 1891 this had grown to a population of 342 and by 1896 1,256. This growth continued steadily until the mid-late 20th century, and has since fluctuated between 5229 (2001) and 5664 (1996), numbering 5,337 at the last census.

Institutional history

The first Stratford Town Board was formed in 1882. The Stratford County Council was formed in 1890, and the Stratford Borough Council was formed on 22 July 1898. In the same year, Stratford became the third town in New Zealand to have electric street lighting, on the initiative of inventor and entrepreneur Alexander Walker Reid.<ref>Template:DNZB</ref> The county and borough councils amalgamated on 1 April 1989 to form the Stratford District Council, which was reconstituted on 1 November 1989 as part of the nationwide restructure in local government.

Historic building

The Kings Theatre was given Category I status by Heritage New Zealand in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Stratford Shakespeare Festival

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival takes place in various venues across Stratford in April each year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is presented by the Stratford Shakespeare Trust.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Schools

There are two secondary schools in Stratford:

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> and celebrated its centenary in 1997.<ref>Template:Cite journal Template:Dead link</ref>

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Most of the students are boarders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The school's name changed from St Mary's Diocesan School in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

There are three primary schools within Stratford township:

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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All these primary schools are coeducational and accept students for years 1–8. Rolls are as of Template:NZ school roll data

Parks and reserves

{{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= {{ safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst||date=__DATE__ |$B= Template:Ambox }} }} Stratford has a number of public parks and reserves, with names reflecting its English and Māori heritage;

  • King Edward Park
  • Victoria Park
  • Windsor Park
  • Kopuatama Cemetery

Born or lived in Stratford

Sports people

Literature, art and culture

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Medicine

  • John Daniel Bergin (17 January 1921 – 22 July 1995), Distinguished physician and neurologist, Catholic pro-life apologist
  • Mel Brieseman, missionary to India, Canterbury Medical Officer of Health
  • Doris Gordon (10 July 1890 – 9 July 1956), doctor and obstetrician
  • Graham Gordon (10 December 1927 – 29 February 2004), Surgeon, St John's officer, NZMA Council Chairman (1977–1988) and NZMA President (1990–1991)

Law, government and politics

Academics

  • Alice Copping (14 May 1906 – 21 August 1982), Senior lecturer in nutrition, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London
  • Dr Alan Kirton (1933 - 2001), agricultural scientist
  • Jack Tizard (1919-1979) Professor of Child Development, University of London. CBE

Other

Notes

Template:Reflist

References

  • The Stratford Inheritance by Ian Church, 1990, Heritage Press Ltd, Waikanae, New Zealand: Template:ISBN
  • Stratford: Shakespearean Town Under the Mountain by David Walter, 2005, Dunmore Publishing, Wellington, New Zealand: Template:ISBN

Template:Territorial Authorities of New Zealand Template:Stratford District

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