Pride in Putaruru

"Encouraging pride

in our community"

www.putaruru.co.nz

About Putaruru

With a population of just over 3783 people, Putaruru is synonymous with forestry and agriculture.  Putaruru  houses  the Timber Museum, which reflects this history.  More recently it has become well known for its pure  water (something the locals have treasured for years!)  The Blue Spring along the Te Waihou River  supplies 60% of New Zealand’s bottled water (distributed nationwide and internationally) and provides the town's water supply as well .

Putaruru has been home to some famous New Zealanders: Lorraine Moller,Grant Fox , Stefan Preston, Gareth and Sam Morgan and Michelle Richardson to drop a few names.

Putaruru is situated where it is for three main reasons:

The Railway Line – The extension of the main railway line from Putaruru to Rotorua in 1894 brought extra trade to Putaruru.  The steam train had to make a 10-20 minute 'water' stop at Putaruru.  This gave the passengers time to stretch their legs, take some light refreshments or make a quick stop at the pub conveniently located just across the road from the station.  The pub was one of the first buildings to sprout from this wayside station (then a single storey wooden building of ten rooms, built by LD Nathan in 1895).

Bush sickness -the land south of Putaruru was found to be ‘sick’ and incapable of supporting livestock, much of it was replanted in forest. The late K.S Cox from Lichfield  carried out one of thefirst large scale cobalt trials in New Zealand  and quickly discovered  cobalt corrected the soil deficiencies . As a result , the farming industry firmly established itself as an important aspect of the district’s economy.

Timber Industry – The timber industry is the third main reason for Putaruru’s existence.  Although there had been a large number of native sawmills, it was not until the man-made forests started to mature that long term stability for the timber industry was foreseeable.

In 1990, (as part of a project) a group of pupils and teachers from Putaruru High School prepared a time capsule showing Putaruru and district as it was then and now, using written, photographic, audio and video recordings, interviews and contributions.  All the data was sealed in a stainless steel capsule filled with inert gas to drive out moisture.  The capsule was buried in front of the council office at Putaruru for exhumation in the year 2040.

Six very young citizens were solemnly charged with the responsibility of seeing the capsule undisturbed but not forgotten for the next 50 years, when they are to return as grown men and women to dig up and share its contents with new generations.  The ‘Keepers of the Capsule’, issued with certificates during the brief ceremony, are Ngira Simmonds and Herani Koia (Kohanga Reo), Ashley Nauer and Kate McKenzie (Glenshea Kindergarten) and Amy Ward and Daniel Pollard (Charles Crescent Kindergarten).

If you would like to know more about Putaruru and its history, a book we recommend you read is ‘PUTARURU Home of the Owl’ written by Vicki Scherer.  You can obtain a copy from the Putaruru Library.

Ask any local  what the name Putaruru means and most will tell you it means ‘home of the owl’.  The accepted Maori translation; puta meaning home as in shelter or safe place, and ruru meaning owl.

Putaruru is located in the heart of the South Waikato District.  Actually it is the geographical centre of the North Island.  From Putaruru you  can head south to Taupo, west to Waitomo, north to Hamilton or east to Rotorua and Tauranga – all within an hour.   Most travellers heading North or South are more than likely to pass through Putaruru.

Putaruru Information Centre

75 Tirau St,  PO box 155, Putaruru

Ph: (07) 883 7284  Fax: (07) 883 7284