Taradale, New Zealand facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taradale
From top, left to right: War memorial clock tower, Trig point atop Sugar Loaf, former Taradale Hotel, Mission Estate, All Saint's Church, Old Town Hall
Basic information
Local authority	Napier
Electoral ward	Taradale Ward
Land area	1,063 ha (4.10 sq mi)*
Coordinates	39°32′S 176°51′E / 39.533°S 176.850°E / -39.533; 176.850
Population	13120 (June 2023)
Postcode(s)	4112

	Taradale, New Zealand

Taradale is a suburb in Napier, a city in the Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It's mostly a residential area, about 10 kilometers southwest of Napier's city center. The wider Taradale area, which includes places like Greenmeadows and Meeanee, had over 22,800 people living there in 2018.

For hundreds of years, hills overlooking Taradale were home to Māori villages. Later, the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe lived there. European settlers started arriving in the 1850s, and Taradale became an official town in 1886. It was a town district until 1953, then a borough until 1968, when it joined Napier City. Taradale is also known for some of New Zealand's oldest vineyards and wineries, with winemaking starting in the 1850s.

Taradale's Past: A Look at History

Early Māori Settlements

Hundreds of years ago, a large pā (a fortified village) stood on the hills at the southern edge of what is now Taradale. This pā had two parts: Hikurangi at the top and Ōtātara at the bottom. It was home to about 3,000 Māori people from the Tini-o-Awa or Ngāti Awa tribe. The pā was in a great spot for defense, right next to the Tutaekuri River. Canoes could travel from the sea up to the pā. There was plenty of food, and the hills were good for growing kūmara (sweet potatoes). The area was also a large tidal zone, full of fish, eels, and shellfish.

In the early 1500s, the Ngāti Kahungunu tribe, led by chiefs Taraia and Rakai-hiku-roa, attacked the pā. They came from Tūranga, near Gisborne, and took over Hikurangi. They couldn't take Ōtātara at first, so Taraia built a new pā at Pākōwhai. Later, he returned to attack Ōtātara again. Legend says Taraia waited until the defenders were low on food. He then left, but hid a small group of his warriors near some fern plants. Two defenders came out to dig for fern roots. Taraia's men ambushed and killed them, then took their places. When the people inside the pā saw the men digging, they thought they were their own and opened the gates to help. Taraia's men then attacked, killing many local Māori. The pā was then abandoned.

Over time, Māori from both tribes married, and peace returned. Today, the Ōtātara pā site is a special place that remembers the Māori who lived there long ago.

European Settlers Arrive

Taradale played an important role as the main entry point to inland routes, including those to Taupō, Auckland, and Taihape. It also led to the farms and settlements in the surrounding areas.

In 1851, Donald McLean bought the Ahuriri Block for the Crown. This land included what is now Taradale and Greenmeadows. By the mid-1850s, more settlers started moving to the area. A count in 1856 showed that Hawke's Bay had 1057 men and 458 women. The government bought the Tutaekuri Block in 1856. This land, along with the Ahuriri Block, was divided up and sold in April 1857.

William Colenso bought several pieces of land, including a large one near Ōtātara. This land stretched from Guppy Road to the Puketapu hills and was bordered by the Great North Road (now Meeanee/Puketapu Roads) and the Tutaekuri River. Henry Stokes Tiffen bought most of the land north of the road to Puketapu and west of Guppy Road. He named it Green Meadows because of the native grass growing there. Henry Alley came to the area in 1858 and leased land from Colenso, naming the area Taradale.

How Taradale Got Its Name

People once thought Henry Alley named Taradale after the Hill of Tara in Ireland, where they believed he was born. However, records show he was born in Queen's County (now County Laois), Ireland. He moved to Australia, living in a town called Taradale in Victoria before coming to New Zealand around 1855. He bought land here and built what was thought to be the first house in the area. Taradale High School still connects to this history, with its emblem featuring the Tara Brooch.

Town Board and Borough Council

In 1886, people asked the governor of New Zealand, Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, to make Taradale an official town district. The Hawke's Bay County Council agreed, and the Town District of Taradale was created on December 2, 1886. A town board was formed to manage the town. Taradale was run by this board until 1953, and then by a borough council until 1968.

Military History

Taradale has a military history like many early New Zealand towns. The Battle of Omarunui, fought nearby in 1866, saw settlers and local Māori working together. They defended against a group called the Hauhau during the New Zealand Wars. People from Taradale also volunteered to fight in the Boer War in South Africa, and in World War 1, World War 2, and other conflicts New Zealand has been involved in.

Twentieth Century Changes

The 1931 Earthquake

Before the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, Taradale and Greenmeadows were separated from Napier by a harbor lagoon and muddy areas. A road built in 1874 connected them. Because of these barriers, Taradale's early settlers became very independent. They built their own shops, services, and places for fun. Many of these historical features still exist today. After the 1931 earthquake, the seabed rose, allowing Napier's suburbs to slowly spread south towards Taradale and Greenmeadows as swamps were drained. Buildings destroyed by the earthquake were rebuilt in the Art Deco style, like the Taradale Town Hall and the Taradale Hotel (which is now a McDonald's restaurant).

The Garden Borough

In the 1960s, Taradale was one of the fastest-growing boroughs in New Zealand. Shops saw it as a good place to open businesses because the population was growing quickly. People took pride in their homes and gardens, and Taradale became known as the "Garden Borough."

Joining Napier City

The idea of joining Napier had been discussed for many years. In 1968, people voted for the merger to happen. The last meeting of the borough council was on March 26, 1968. Taradale then became part of Napier City Council. Even so, it still has a strong community spirit. The last mayor of Taradale was Arthur Miller. He was well-liked and respected, especially for his efforts to establish Taradale Intermediate and Taradale High School. A new school, Arthur Miller School, was named after him in 1971 to honor his support for education.

Taradale Today: Recent Developments

Taradale has continued to grow and change. It has a growth rate of 6.7%, which is higher than the average for Hawke's Bay. New housing developments are being built to meet the demand for homes. Over 1400 new residential sections are being created in areas like Mission Heights and Citrus Grove. The Taradale Town Centre has also been updated. Over $3.5 million has been spent on renovations, including new gardens, better walking paths, and improved parking.

How Taradale is Governed

Napier City Council divides the city into four wards. The Taradale ward includes Taradale, Greenmeadows, Poraiti, Meeanee, and Awatoto. This area is similar to the original Taradale district.

Taradale's Location and Landscape

Taradale is a residential area nestled against the Taradale hills. It's about a 10-minute drive from the center of Napier. More than a third of Napier's population lives here. It also has one of the highest socioeconomic profiles in Hawke's Bay.

The houses in Taradale show many different styles, from old villas to Art Deco designs. There are also many premium homes throughout the area. Homes on the hills to the west of the town center have amazing views of Hawke's Bay, Cape Kidnappers, and the Heretaunga plains. Many people who live in Taradale travel to work in Napier or Hastings. They prefer the quieter, suburban life over living in the city center.

Gloucester Street is the main street and shopping area. It's a busy street with many traditional shops. Taradale's village is a lively place with unique shops, cafes, and a nice atmosphere. Gloucester Street is also close to the wineries on Church Road, which bring many visitors to the area.

Greenmeadows: A Nearby Community

Greenmeadows is an area about two kilometers north of Taradale's town center. It's a key part of the Taradale community and has always been seen as an "extension of Taradale." Greenmeadows officially became part of the Taradale Town District in 1941. Together, Taradale and Greenmeadows have a population of about 17,000 people. Greenmeadows has a small shopping village with essential services and a supermarket.

Who Lives in Taradale: Population Facts

Taradale covers about 10.63 square kilometers. As of 2023, it had an estimated population of about 12,950 people. This means there are about 1,218 people per square kilometer.

In 2018, Taradale had a population of 12,456. This was an increase of 624 people since 2013. There were 4,902 households. For every 100 females, there were about 86 males. About 17.6% of the people were under 15 years old, and 26.8% were 65 or older.

Most people in Taradale (87.4%) were European. About 12.9% were Māori, and smaller numbers were Pacific peoples (1.6%) or Asian (6.4%). About 19.1% of people were born overseas.

When asked about religion, 48.1% said they had no religion. About 40.0% were Christian. Other religions included Māori beliefs, Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist.

About 19.6% of people aged 15 or older had a university degree. About 43.3% worked full-time, and 15.1% worked part-time.

Taradale's Famous Wineries

Mission Estate Winery – one of a number of wineries in the area

Taradale is known for some of New Zealand's oldest and best wineries. The area has a rich history of winemaking, going back to the 1850s. Two of the most famous wineries in Hawke's Bay, Mission Estate Winery and Church Road Winery, attract over 300,000 visitors every year.

Mission Estate Winery was founded in 1851. It moved to its current location on Church Road in 1897. It is the oldest winery in New Zealand that is still open today and is a popular tourist spot. French missionaries started the Hawke's Bay Marist Mission in 1851. They moved it to Meeanee in 1858 and started a vineyard to make wine for church services and for drinking. A church and school were built soon after. In 1880, a two-story house was built for training priests. After a flood in 1887, they bought a large property on Church Road and started a new vineyard. You can still see some of the original terraced hillsides where the Mission Concert is held every February. In 1910, the main seminary building was moved from Meeanee to its current spot on Church Road. It was cut into eleven pieces and rolled on logs pulled by a traction engine, which took two days! A new accommodation block opened in February 1931. The very next day, the Hawke's Bay earthquake hit, causing serious damage to the Mission. Two priests and seven students died when the stone chapel was destroyed. The seminary building was renovated in the early 2000s and now has a restaurant and event rooms. The Mission is a popular place for weddings.

The Church Road Winery, once called McDonald's Wines, was started in 1897 by Bartholemew Steinmetz, a lay brother from the Marist Mission. It's one of the oldest wineries in Hawke's Bay. It had some of its most successful years under the leadership of Tom McDonald. He is known as the "father" of New Zealand's premium red wine industry. The winery buildings now include a restaurant and an underground wine museum. The museum shows the history and methods of winemaking.

As the wine industry in Hawke's Bay grows, more wineries are opening in the Taradale area. Other wineries nearby include Brookfield's Vineyards, Dobel Estate (by the Tutaekuri River), Moana Park Winery (behind the Taradale hills), and Tironui Estate (below Sugarloaf hill).

Taradale's Special Landmarks

The clock tower

War Memorial Clock Tower

The Taradale clock tower was built in 1923 to remember those from Taradale and the surrounding area who fought in World War 1. The tower is located where several roads meet, making it a very noticeable landmark. Designed by John Ellis, the hexagonal tower is 15 meters tall. It was officially revealed in 1923 by Admiral Viscount Jellicoe, who was the Governor General of New Zealand. After the 1931 earthquake, the tower leaned by about 0.6 meters, but John Ellis was able to fix it. In 1997, Brenda Morrell painted murals on the tower showing the three armed services.

Ormlie Lodge: A Historic Home

Ormlie Lodge was built in 1899 by William Nelson as a wedding gift for his daughter Gertrude and her husband Hector Smith. The 1931 earthquake badly damaged the house. The Smiths had to move out for two years while it was repaired. Gertrude and Hector, who had four daughters, lived their whole married life on the estate. Gertrude passed away in 1955. Hector stayed in the house for another seven years until he sold it in 1962, just before he died at 93.

The new owners turned the home into a private hotel. The stables were changed into one of Hawke's Bay's best restaurants in the 1960s. For the next twenty years, the grand house had several different owners and changes. In 1985, a fire destroyed the Stables Restaurant. The main house was not damaged. The Stables Restaurant was never rebuilt. Soon after the fire, new owners bought the lodge. They restored it to its original beauty and hired the son of the first builder to create the elegant ballroom. This ballroom is now used for weddings, conferences, and other events.

Places to Visit and Use in Taradale

Taradale Library

When Taradale joined Napier in 1968, Taradale Library became a branch of Napier Library. Since 2008, the combined library service has been called "Napier Libraries." The Taradale Library was on Gloucester Street until 1995. Then it moved to a new building on White Street. In 2007, a study suggested making the library much bigger. The rebuilt and expanded Taradale Library opened on July 13, 2009. The $1.7 million upgrade created a bright and spacious building. It meets the needs of all ages for information, education, and fun. The new library makes the most of its location on White Street. It has comfy seating and large windows with views of Centennial and Taradale parks.

Pettigrew Green Arena

Pettigrew Green Arena is a large building that can host small or big sports games, concerts, and fairs. It has a gym, courts for squash and badminton, and areas for yoga and ball training. It also houses the Sports Hawke's Bay office. This office helps promote sports to young people and organizes games and competitions. They also have programs to help young children live healthier lives, as well as some programs for adults.

Tareha Recreational Reserve

Tareha Recreational Reserve is a sports and recreation area at the southern end of Taradale. It is located near the Tutaekuri River. This land was originally set aside in 1917 to help protect the river and its banks. A stopbank was built in 1970, separating the land from the riverbed. The land was then transferred to Napier City to be developed as a recreation area. This was done for the growing Taradale-Greenmeadows area.

The park's name honors Tareha Te Moananui. He was a Māori tribal leader and a member of Parliament who lived nearby.

Park Island

Park Island sports and recreation ground is north of Taradale, about a 5-minute drive away. It's next to the suburb of Tamatea. This area is used a lot for local, regional, and national sports events, especially soccer, hockey, and rugby.

Parks and Natural Areas

Sugar Loaf Hill

The 127-meter hill known as Sugar Loaf or Pukekura stands out in the western hills above Taradale. Its unique shape can be seen from all over Taradale and parts of Napier. At the top of the hill was once Pukekura Pā. This was a smaller pā that was part of Ōtātara Pā and Hikurangi Pā. Mr. G. Halliwell bought the hill and nearby land in the 1980s. It has always been a popular spot for outdoor activities because of the amazing 360-degree views of Hawke's Bay from the top. In the 1920s, it was a place for moonlight picnics, especially popular with young people. In the 1930s, motorbike races were held in Taradale each Easter. The hill-climb part of the race took riders up the steep slopes of Sugar Loaf. The hill was also affected by the 1931 earthquake. Tom McDonald, a winemaker from Church Road Winery, remembered "seeing the top of the hill rise up in the air and fall down again an estimated seven feet." In the 1980s, the Halliwell family gave the summit and surrounding area to be kept as a reserve.

From the top, you can see the Napier–Taradale area and much of the Heretaunga Plains to the east. To the west, you can see the Ruahine and Kaweka Ranges. The path to the top is steep, especially from the Cumberland Rise entrance. The walk is considered moderate to difficult.

The Taradale Hills are divided into four parts: Mission Heights (covered in pine trees), the distinct Sugarloaf, the Dolbel/Puketapu reserve hill, and the steep slope of Ōtātara.

Ōtātara Pā Historical Reserve

Located on a high hill south of Taradale, Ōtātara Pā is one of New Zealand's most important historical sites. It gives a glimpse into the area's Māori history. The original Ōtātara and Hikurangi pā sites are part of the 33-hectare historical reserve, created in 1973. Ngāti Pārau of Waiohiki, who are the kaitiaki (caretakers) of Ōtātara, work with the Department of Conservation to manage the reserve. Māori lived on this hill as early as the late 1400s. It was here that Ngāti Kahungunu gained a strong presence in Heretaunga and grew to become the main tribe in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa. You can still see the remains of house terraces and food pits. Restoration work has included planting trees, building palisades (fences), and setting up pouwhenua (carved posts). These posts show the connection between Māori tribes and the land.

By walking the hilly track, visitors can see how naturally protected the site was. Standing guard over the Heretaunga Plains to the south, both pā were safe from attack because of cliffs, steep ridges, and a sharp drop to the Tutaekuri River.

Dolbel Reserve

Dolbel Reserve is named after brothers Philip and Richard Dolbel. They came from Jersey to New Zealand in 1855 and owned farmland that included the current reserve land. The reserve covers 18 hectares of flat land and hills. A walk to the top offers wide views over Hawke's Bay, from Mahia to Cape Kidnappers. There are about 10 kilometers of tracks, both on the flat land and climbing to the hilltop. You walk over open slopes and through valleys with native plants. In 1991, the Taradale Rotary Club started a project to create a tree park on this council-owned reserve. The idea was to create a memorial park of trees for the community to enjoy. People can arrange to plant a tree to celebrate a family event.

Anderson Park

Anderson Park covers 40 hectares. It was once a racecourse owned by Henry Tiffen. The Napier Park Racing Club set up its headquarters here in 1886, and horse racing continued until 1961. Several saltwater creeks, used as obstacles in the races, ran through the area. You can still see where these creeks were in the park's shape. The large pond was used to dig up silt, which was then spread on the race track each season to level and improve it. In 1931, this large open space was used as a field hospital for people injured in the earthquake. After the grandstand was torn down, the rubble was buried and covered with grass. This now forms a low mound on the southern side of the park. A block of the original stables has been kept on the western edge of the park. Today, it is used for storage by the Parks and Reserve Department. The land could have become a residential area, but Napier City Council bought it in 1962 to be a public park. It has since been developed into the beautiful open space it is today. When Haskell Anderson died in 1963, the park was named after him. He was the founder of a large local plant nursery and left money to Napier City Council to create a fund for tree planting.

Taradale Domain and Centennial Park

Taradale Park opened in 1916 on land that the Taradale Town Board leased and later bought. Over the years, it has become a valuable community resource. The water wheel was put up by the Rotary Club in 1968. The wheel was originally built in 1920 and was used to generate electricity for a private home. Taradale Park is home to the Taradale Sports Association. This includes the Taradale Cricket Club, Napier Harriers Club, Greendale Tennis Club, and Taradale Association Football Club. The Taradale Public Library and its parking are on a separate piece of land next to Centennial Park. The southern part of the reserve has a children's play area and a skateboard bowl. Taradale Kindergarten and Taradale Friendship Centre are also on the reserve. Centennial Park, which is an extension of the main park, is a peaceful area with trees, a rose garden, and water features.

Learning in Taradale: Education

Taradale has several schools. They are rated between decile 7 and 10, which means they serve communities with different levels of economic advantage.

• Arthur Miller School: A state primary school.
• Bledisloe School: A state primary school.
• Reignier Catholic School: A state-integrated Catholic primary school.
• Taradale School: A state primary school.
• Taradale Intermediate: A state intermediate school.
• Taradale High School: A state secondary school.
• Fairhaven: A special needs school.

The growing Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) offers many different diploma and degree qualifications for older students.