Horopito, New Zealand facts for kids
Horopito is a small place in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 4. You can find it between the village of National Park and the town of Raetihi.
Horopito's History
In the past, Horopito was a busy town known for sawmilling. It had many important buildings. These included a railway station (open from 1907 to 1986), a school, two hotels, a bank, and a post office. There were also many houses.
In 1907, a politician named Kennedy Macdonald thought Horopito would become a very important place. He believed it would be a major business and industry center. This was because of its location along the North Island Main Trunk railway line.
However, Horopito started to decline in the 1920s and 1930s. People moved away to find better jobs. Today, most of the old buildings are gone. The main business in Horopito now is Horopito Motors, a car wrecking yard.
Horopito in Films
Horopito has been a filming location for New Zealand movies. The 1981 film Smash Palace was set here. The car wrecking yard, Horopito Motors, has also been used in films. Another movie filmed there was Goodbye Pork Pie.
In 2011, there was talk of a short film being made in Horopito. This film was planned to be entered into the famous Cannes Film Festival.
Events in Horopito
Since 2014, Horopito has hosted the Cold Kiwi Motorcycle Rally. This is a popular event for motorcycle riders.
