Papatawa is a rural community in the Tararua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located six kilometres north-east of Woodville, on both sides of State Highway 2. [1]
The area has no shops, and locals use Palmerston North, Pahiatua and Dannevirke as service centres. [2]
European settlement of the area began in 1878, [3] when an area of forest called the Victoria Block was cleared and subdivided into 36 farming sections. [4]
The Manga-atua School house opened in the area 1887, with a roll of the 18 pupils increasing to 22 within the first day. [4] The school changed its name to Papatawa School in 1905, and it eventually gained an extra classroom. [1]
In 1910 John A. Millar, the Minister of Railways in the Ward Ministry, denied a request for a railway loading bank at Papatawa, citing a lack of funds. [5]
By the 1930s, the area had a dairy factory, a railway station, a county council yard, and a team of horses in stables. The area was connected by gravel roads, two rail lines and a shunting line. Cheese from the dairy factory was transported to the railway station by horse and cart, and most locals took the train to Woodville to do shopping. [1]
During the Great Depression, workers built a tennis court at the school and turned the school to face the sun. A pool was installed in the 1960s. [4]
The 4.5 kilometre Papatawa stretch of State Highway 2 has been the site of several fatal crashes. [6] [7]
Between 2010 and 2014, the NZ Transport Agency realigned and straightened the 4.5 kilometre stretch of State Highway 2, with a new intersection, rail crossing, over-bridge, passing lane and stream diversion. [8] The $11 million project aimed to reduce crashes and separate local traffic from the 700 trucks that were using the road between Tararua and Hawke's Bay each day. [9]
Papatawa School was a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students. The school opened in 1887 and operated through to August 2023 when it closed due to falling roll numbers. Children in the area now attend school in Woodville. [10]
Papatawa is a rural community in the Tararua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located six kilometres north-east of Woodville, on both sides of State Highway 2. [1]
The area has no shops, and locals use Palmerston North, Pahiatua and Dannevirke as service centres. [2]
European settlement of the area began in 1878, [3] when an area of forest called the Victoria Block was cleared and subdivided into 36 farming sections. [4]
The Manga-atua School house opened in the area 1887, with a roll of the 18 pupils increasing to 22 within the first day. [4] The school changed its name to Papatawa School in 1905, and it eventually gained an extra classroom. [1]
In 1910 John A. Millar, the Minister of Railways in the Ward Ministry, denied a request for a railway loading bank at Papatawa, citing a lack of funds. [5]
By the 1930s, the area had a dairy factory, a railway station, a county council yard, and a team of horses in stables. The area was connected by gravel roads, two rail lines and a shunting line. Cheese from the dairy factory was transported to the railway station by horse and cart, and most locals took the train to Woodville to do shopping. [1]
During the Great Depression, workers built a tennis court at the school and turned the school to face the sun. A pool was installed in the 1960s. [4]
The 4.5 kilometre Papatawa stretch of State Highway 2 has been the site of several fatal crashes. [6] [7]
Between 2010 and 2014, the NZ Transport Agency realigned and straightened the 4.5 kilometre stretch of State Highway 2, with a new intersection, rail crossing, over-bridge, passing lane and stream diversion. [8] The $11 million project aimed to reduce crashes and separate local traffic from the 700 trucks that were using the road between Tararua and Hawke's Bay each day. [9]
Papatawa School was a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students. The school opened in 1887 and operated through to August 2023 when it closed due to falling roll numbers. Children in the area now attend school in Woodville. [10]