Tīrau
Tīrau | |
|---|---|
Tīrau's corrugated iron 'giant dog' and 'big sheep' buildings | |
| Coordinates: 37°59′S 175°45′E / 37.983°S 175.750°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato Region |
| District | South Waikato District |
| Ward | Tirau Ward |
| Community | Tirau Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | South Waikato District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of South Waikato | Gary Petley |
| • Taupō MP | Louise Upston |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.69 km2 (0.65 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024) | |
• Total | 930 |
| • Density | 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 3410 |
| Area code | 07 |
Tīrau is a small town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, 50 kilometres southeast of Hamilton. The town has a population of 804 (2018 census). In the Māori language, "Tīrau" means "place of many cabbage trees."
Tīrau is a major junction in the New Zealand state highway network. Just south of the township is the intersection of State Highway 1 and State Highway 5, where traffic from Auckland and Hamilton on State Highway 1 split to go either to Rotorua on SH 5, or continue along SH 1 to Taupō and beyond to Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington. State Highway 27 splits off State Highway 1 in the north of the town, providing a route north to the Coromandel Peninsula and an alternative route to Auckland, bypassing Hamilton.
Tīrau is primarily a farming town but in recent years has begun to exploit the income that comes from being at a major road junction.
The small community of Okoroire (with hot springs) is located just north of Tīrau. Okoroire railway station was over 4 km (2.5 mi) to the west of the springs.