Ongarue
Ongarue | |
|---|---|
Rural community | |
Ongarue valley | |
Interactive map of Ongarue | |
| Coordinates: 38°42′58″S 175°17′02″E / 38.716°S 175.284°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| District | Ruapehu District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Taumarunui-Ōhura Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Ruapehu District Council |
| • Regional council | Horizons Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Ruapehu | Weston Kirton |
| • Taranaki-King Country MP | Barbara Kuriger |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer |
| Area | |
• Total | 138.62 km2 (53.52 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census) | |
• Total | 120 |
| • Density | 0.87/km2 (2.2/sq mi) |
Ongarue (Māori: Ōngarue) is a rural community in the Ruapehu District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located south of Te Kūiti and Waimiha, and north of Taumarunui.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of shaking" (i.e. an earthquake) for Ōngarue.
Ongarue is on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. The Ongarue railway station operated from 1901 to 1975. On 6 July 1923, south of the township, an express train hit a landslide; the resulting Ongarue railway disaster killed 17 people, at the time the worst loss of life on New Zealand's railway. It remains the country's third-worst railway disaster.
The village formerly had an Ellis and Burnand sawmill. From 1922 to 1958, the Ellis and Burnand Tramway, an extensive bush tramway, served this mill and connected with the Main Trunk railway. Much of the tramway's alignment is now the Timber Trail cycleway; Ongarue is at the lower end of the route.