Waiotira facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waiotira
View of the former Waiotira railway station from the Mititai Road overbridge, with some of the township at right.
Waiotira Location in Northland Region
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Whangarei District

Waiotira is a small place, or "locality," located in the Northland area of New Zealand. It's found southwest of Whangārei. About 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) to the northeast is Tauraroa. The Waiotira Stream also flows through the area, heading southwest to join the Omaru River.

Getting Around Waiotira: Transport

Waiotira is an important spot on the North Auckland Line, which is a railway line. It's also where another railway line, the Dargaville Branch, connects.

Early Train Travel

The very first trains started running in Waiotira in 1921. This was while the North Auckland Line was still being built. These early trains were super helpful! They carried schoolchildren between Waiotira and Waikiekie. They also allowed people living in the area to travel to places like Portland and Whangārei. By 1923, trains could travel all the way from Auckland to Whangārei.

Waiotira as a Railway Hub

Waiotira became a "junction" in 1928. This means it was a place where two railway lines met. This happened when the first part of the Dargaville Branch line opened, going to Kirikopuni. By 1941, trains from Waiotira could go all the way to Dargaville.

Waiotira grew into an important stop on the North Auckland Line. It had a special "island platform." This is a train platform with tracks on both sides. Passengers could switch trains here. For example, they could transfer between "mixed trains" (which carried both passengers and goods) going to or from Dargaville, and the "Northland Express" or its faster "railcar" trains. The station also had a "railway yard" where trains could be stored or moved around. There were also facilities for staff who maintained the railway tracks.

Changes to Train Services

Over time, things changed. The fast railcar services stopped in 1967. The mixed trains to Dargaville also ended that year. A mixed train service between Maungaturoto and Whangārei continued to stop at Waiotira until it was cancelled on September 15, 1975. Most of the station buildings and equipment were removed in the 1980s.

Today, some of the old tracks on the west side of the platform and parts of the railway yard have been taken up. The Dargaville Branch line was "mothballed" in 2014. This means it's no longer used for regular trains but could be reopened in the future. However, goods trains still travel through Waiotira on the main North Auckland Line.

Waiotira is not located on New Zealand's main state highway roads.

Learning in Waiotira: Education

Waiotira School is a primary school for students in years 1 to 6. It is "coeducational," meaning both boys and girls attend. The school has 32 students as of February 2024. .

Fun in Waiotira: Recreation

For fun and activities, Waiotira has a nine-hole golf course where people can play golf. There's also a pony club, which is a great place for kids and teens who love horses and want to learn how to ride or care for them.