Cambridge, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cambridge Kemureti  (Māori)
Town
Victoria Bridge over the Waikato River
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
District	Waipa District
Ward	Cambridge Ward
Community	Cambridge Community
Electorates	Taupō Hauraki-Waikato
Area
• Total	27.35 km2 (10.56 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	21,800
• Density	797.1/km2 (2,064/sq mi)
Postcode	3432, 3434

Cambridge (which is Kemureti in the Māori language) is a lively town in the Waipa District of New Zealand's Waikato region. It's located on the North Island, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Hamilton. The town sits right by the Waikato River.

Cambridge is famous for its many trees and for producing many sports champions. It's often called "The Town of Trees & Champions." With a population of about 21,800, it's the biggest town in the Waipa District. It's also the third largest urban area in the Waikato region, after Hamilton and Taupō.

Cambridge has won awards for its beauty. It was a finalist in the "New Zealand's Most Beautiful Large Town" awards in 2017 and 2019. In October 2019, it proudly won the title!

History of Cambridge

Before Europeans arrived, the area around Cambridge was home to several Māori pā (fortified villages). In the 1850s, British missionaries and farmers came to settle. They shared modern farming methods with local Māori. They even helped set up flour mills and brought in grinding wheels from England and France. Wheat farming was very profitable then. However, when cheaper grain started coming from Australia, the market changed.

The European town of Cambridge was officially started in 1864. This happened after soldiers from the 3rd Regiment of the Waikato Militia settled there. The town got its name from Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army at that time. Electric street lights were first turned on in Cambridge in 1922.

People of Cambridge

Cambridge covers an area of about 27.35 square kilometers (10.56 sq mi). As of June 2023, it has an estimated population of 21,800. This means there are about 797 people living in each square kilometer.

The town's population has grown a lot over the years. In 2006, there were 13,899 people. By 2013, it grew to 16,101. In 2018, the population reached 18,654. This shows a big increase of 34.2% since 2006.

Most people in Cambridge are of European descent (90.1%). About 10.5% identify as Māori. There are also smaller groups of Asian (5.3%) and Pacific peoples (1.5%). Many people in Cambridge have no religious belief (50.4%). About 38.7% are Christian.

Hamilton, Puketaha & Cambridge war memorials

How Cambridge is Governed

Cambridge is managed by the Waipa District Council. Even though it's the biggest town in the district, the council's main office is in Te Awamutu.

For national elections, Cambridge is part of two areas. It's in the Taupō general electorate. It's also part of the Hauraki-Waikato Māori electorate.

Cambridge's Economy

Cambridge's economy relies on a few key areas. These include dairy farming, tourism, the horse industry, and sports.

• Dairy Farming: More than one in ten jobs in the Waipa District are in dairy farming.
• Tourism: The tourism industry supports about 12.7% of jobs in the Waipa District.
• Equine Industry: The horse industry provides over 600 jobs in the Waikato region. Many of these jobs are in and around Cambridge. This is why Cambridge is known as the 'equine capital' of New Zealand.
• Commuting: It's estimated that one in five people living in Cambridge work in nearby Hamilton.

Getting Around Cambridge

Cambridge is located right next to State Highway 1. This highway connects the town to Hamilton in the northwest. It also links to Tauranga, Rotorua, and Taupō in the southeast. You can get into Cambridge from the north using the Cambridge Road and Victoria Road exits. From the south, you use the Tirau Road exit.

Before 2015, State Highway 1 used to go through the middle of Cambridge. However, in 1985, it was moved to bypass the main shopping street.

Another highway, State Highway 1B, starts near Cambridge. It goes north towards Auckland, helping drivers avoid Hamilton.

The closest airport is Hamilton Airport. It's about an 18-minute drive from Cambridge. This airport offers daily flights to all major cities in New Zealand.

There's also a public bus service. It connects Cambridge to central Hamilton several times a day. The bus goes through Tamahere and past Waikato University.

Cambridge used to have a railway line called the Cambridge Branch. But this line closed beyond Hautapu in 1999.

Before the railway, the Waikato River was the main way to travel. Cambridge was as far as boats could go up the river. Steamers continued to use Cambridge until the 1930s. The wharf was near the Karapiro Stream, where the river was wide enough for the steamers to turn around.

Nearby Rural Areas

Around Cambridge, there are several rural areas. People in these areas often feel connected to Cambridge for social and economic reasons. These districts usually have a few hundred residents. They also have a primary school and a community hall for local events.

In the early 1900s, many of these areas had their own small milk factories. Some of these districts include Bruntwood, French Pass, Goodwood/Fencourt, Hautapu, Hora Hora, Karapiro, Kaipaki, Maungatautari, Te Miro, and Whitehall.

Climate

Sports in Cambridge

Cambridge and nearby Lake Karapiro are major centers for sports in New Zealand. They are home to national sports groups and training centers. These include cycling (track, road, mountain biking, and BMX), rowing, and triathlon. They also serve as high-performance centers for kayaking and canoeing.

Cycling Activities

A special indoor cycling track, called the Grassroots Trust Velodrome, opened in Cambridge in 2014. Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, opened it. In December 2015, Cambridge hosted a big international cycling event, the 2015–16 UCI Track Cycling World Cup.

There are also many great cycle and walking tracks built around Cambridge. The Te Awa River Ride is a 60-kilometer (37-mile) path. It runs from Ngāruawāhia to Karapiro. Parts of it are already open for cyclists and walkers. One path goes from the center of Cambridge to the velodrome, following the Waikato River. Another wide cycleway connects Leamington to Lake Karapiro Domain. Cambridge will host the New Zealand National Road Race Championships and the time trial from 2020 to 2022.

Thoroughbred Horse Studs

Cambridge is very well known for its Thoroughbred horse farms and stables. These places have raised many champion horses for racing and show jumping. Cambridge is even called the 'equine capital' of New Zealand.

Some famous horse studs in the area include:

• Cambridge Stud
• Chequers Stud
• Blue Gum Lodge
• Trelawney Stud
• Windsor Park Stud

Rowing Excellence

Lake Karapiro is considered one of the best rowing lakes in the world. Many world champion rowers have come from this area. Some famous names include Rob Waddell, Robbie Manson, the Evers-Swindell twins (Georgina and Caroline), Mahé Drysdale, and James Dallinger. The 2010 World Rowing Championships were held at Lake Karapiro.

Rugby and Football Clubs

Cambridge has two local rugby clubs: Hautapu Sports Club, started in 1903, and Leamington Rugby Sports Club, started in 1897.

For football, Cambridge is home to Cambridge FC. This team won the Waikato Bay of Plenty Premiership in 2015 and 2017. They were also named Waipa Sports Club of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

Events in Cambridge

Cambridge and its surrounding area host many exciting events. These include sports, cultural gatherings, and trade shows.

More than 120,000 people visit the National Agricultural Fieldays every year. This big event takes place at the Mystery Creek Events Centre, located between Cambridge and Hamilton.

Every summer, Lake Karapiro hosts the Waka Ama Sprint National Championships. It also holds hydroplane racing as part of the New Zealand Grand Prix Circuit. In February, the Keyte Watson Polo Tournament happens in Leamington, Cambridge. Each March, Cambridge celebrates its four-day Autumn Festival. In December, there's a Christmas Festival, which includes a town parade.

A fun local event is the Battle of the Bridges. This is a rugby and netball competition between Cambridge's two sports clubs, Leamington and Hautapu. The trophy is given to the winning rugby team. This event takes place every August. The very first match between the two sides, in 2013, ended in a 0–0 draw.

Media in Cambridge

Cambridge has its own local radio station called Switch FM.

The town also has two local newspapers: the Cambridge News and the Cambridge Edition.

There is also a very active Facebook page. People use it to share information and ask for help.

Education in Cambridge

Cambridge offers a range of schools for students of all ages.

Cambridge High School is the town's public secondary school. It's for students in Year 9 to 13. Cambridge Middle School is the intermediate school, for Year 7 to 10 students.

There are three public primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students:

• Cambridge East School
• Cambridge School
• Leamington School

Cambridge also has two non-public schools:

• St. Peter's School is a private Anglican school. It's for students in Year 7 to 13.
• St Peter's Catholic School is a Roman Catholic primary school. It's for students in Year 1 to 8.

Notable People from Cambridge

Many well-known people have lived in or come from Cambridge. Here are some of them:

• Kylie Bax, Model and actress
• Hamish Bond, Rower and Olympic gold medalist
• Kenny Cresswell, member of the 1982 All Whites (football team)
• Members of The Datsuns Rock Band
• Mahé Drysdale, Rower and Olympic gold medalist
• Katie Duncan, international footballer and Olympian
• Matthew Dunham, World Champion silver medalist in rowing
• Angus Fogg, racing driver
• Allyson Gofton, cooking writer and television presenter
• Juliette Haigh, World Champion gold medalist in rowing
• Nikki Hamblin, Middle distance runner and Fair Play Award winner at the 2016 Summer Olympics
• Ricki Herbert, former coach of the New Zealand All Whites and international footballer
• Sir Patrick Hogan, famous horse breeder
• Nikita Howarth, Paralympic swimmer and gold medalist
• Luke Jacobson, Professional Rugby Union player and All Black
• Mitch Jacobson, Professional Rugby Union player
• Billy T. James, Entertainer and comedian
• Spencer Jones, Professional Rugby Union player
• Sir Vaughan Jones, a Fields Medal winner (a top math award)
• Joelle King, Squash player
• Regan King, Rugby Union player
• Dick Myers, All Black (played for Leamington RFC)
• Eric Murray, rower and Olympic gold medalist
• Ritchie Pickett, country music singer/songwriter
• Ken Rutherford, International cricketer and horse racing club manager
• Wayne Smith, All Black and assistant coach for World Cup winning All Blacks in 2011 and 2015
• Joel Tobeck, Actor
• Sarah Walker, Olympic silver medalist in BMX
• Sir Mark Todd, equestrian with two Olympic gold medals
• Sarah Ulmer, World Champion and Olympic gold medalist cyclist
• Rob Waddell, Olympic gold medalist in rowing
• Chris Wood, international footballer and All Whites captain
• Cameron Roigard, Rugby Union Player

Cambridge was also the birthplace of:

• All Black Sir Colin Meads
• George Albert Tuck (1884–1981), a notable New Zealand builder, soldier, and diarist
• Artist Frances Irwin Hunt (1890–1981)
• Educationalist Blanche Eleanor Carnachan (1871–1954)