Stratford, New Zealand


Stratford is the only town in Stratford District, and the seat of the Taranaki region, in New Zealand's North Island. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki, approximately halfway between New Plymouth and Hāwera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki Region. The town has a population of, making it the 62nd largest urban area in New Zealand, and the fourth largest in Taranaki.
The Stratford District has a population of, and a land area of, which is divided between the Manawatū-Whanganui region and the Taranaki region.
WWW stratford.govt.nz

Climate

Stratford has a temperate Oceanic climate

Road and rail

Stratford is at the junction of State Highway 3 and State Highway 43.
On State Highway 3 New Plymouth is north, Inglewood north, Eltham south and Hāwera south.
On State Highway 43 Taumarunui is to the east. This road is known as "The Forgotten World Highway", due to the scarcity of settlement along the road in contrast to its earlier history. A sign reads "No Petrol for ".
Stratford railway station is the junction of the Marton–New Plymouth and Stratford–Okahukura lines.

Population

Stratford is a rural service centre, serving the agricultural economy of its wider hinterland.
The population of the district peaked in 1961 at 11,300, and until the end of the century the town fluctuated between 5229 and 5664. The 21st century has seen significant economic growth and some associated population growth in the town.
Stats NZ describes Stratford as a small urban area, which covers. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Stratford had a population of 6,330 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 444 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 837 people since the 2013 census. There were 3,099 males, 3,219 females, and 15 people of other genders in 2,493 dwellings. 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.6 years. There were 1,248 people aged under 15 years, 1,071 aged 15 to 29, 2,655 aged 30 to 64, and 1,362 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.0% European ; 17.5% Māori; 2.2% Pasifika; 4.2% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 2.8%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 5.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.0%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 32.2% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.7%, and 10.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 567 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,979 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,542 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 273 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,319 full-time, 654 part-time, and 141 unemployed.
NameArea
PopulationDensity
DwellingsMedian ageMedian
income
Stratford North3.422,16963484041.0 years$37,100
Stratford Central2.772,17578592443.0 years$33,200
Stratford South2.721,98673072937.4 years$31,600
New Zealand38.1 years$41,500

History and culture

Whakaahurangi

The Māori name for Stratford is Whakaahurangi, meaning to look to the sky. The name is taken from a story of the Ngāti Ruanui chieftainess/Puhi Ariki named Rua-pū-tahanga who fled her husband Whatihua from Waikato, travelling the track known as Te ara tapu o Ruaputahanga which stretches from Urenui down through Tariki, and ends near Patea. Here she stopped at the side of the Kahouri river near a fresh water spring. It is said she sat distraught and cried into the spring, naming it Te Puna Roimata o Ruaputahanga, then camped overnight east of the current town. Being a clear night, Rua-pū-tahanga lay contemplating the stars when slumber overtook her. Withdrawing in respect, her followers observed that their chieftainess slept "with her face to the sky". The site continued to be used as a camping place for Māori, the track she followed linking the south Taranaki tribes to those in north Taranaki, and further north to Kawhia. Each travelling party would recollect the story of Rua-pū-tahanga sleeping with her face to the sky.
Whakaahurangi Marae, a marae of the Ngāti Ruanui tribe and its Ahitahi sub-tribe, is located in Stratford. It includes a wharenui, known as Te Whetū o Marama.

Surveying

There is no record of Māori settlement in the vicinity of Stratford. Before British settlement the area was covered in dense forest and swamp. The Vogel schemes of the 1870s provided the necessary impetus to lead to the construction of a railway line south of New Plymouth, and the creation of road access at the same time, to open up access to the rich soils under the mountain.
In 1876, Taranaki Waste Lands Board assistant surveyor Edwin Stanley Brookes, Jnr. cut a meridian line from Waitara to the site of Stratford, and oversaw the subdivision of a block between the Manganui River and the Pātea River. The surveying of a new site for a town on the banks of the Pātea River was authorised on 11 June 1877, and the northern half of the town was laid out by William Skinner in July. More lots were laid out by Peter Cheal in 1879, and in 1880 Skinner was directed to survey the southern half of the town.

Naming

On 3 December 1877, the name Stratford-upon-Patea was adopted, on the motion of William Crompton of the Taranaki Waste Lands Board. The town was named after Stratford-upon-Avon due to similarities of the Patea River and the River Avon in Warwickshire. The connection to William Shakespeare's hometown led to the naming of 67 streets after Shakespearian characters from 27 of his plays.
Today New Zealand's only glockenspiel clock tower plays the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet three times a day. The spoken words are provided via external loudspeakers - there is no carillon as would be more typical for glockenspiels in towers.

Settlement and growth

Stratford was formally classified as a town in June 1878, and on 31 August 1878 an auction of 455 sections saw the first sections sold. By 1881 the population was 97, comprising 56 males and 41 females, with 22 houses. By 1891 this had grown to a population of 342 and by 1896 1,256. This growth continued steadily until the mid-late 20th century, and has since fluctuated between 5229 and 5664, numbering 5,337 at the last census.

Institutional history

The first Stratford Town Board was formed in 1882. The Stratford County Council was formed in 1890, and the Stratford Borough Council was formed on 22 July 1898. In the same year, Stratford became the third town in New Zealand to have electric street lighting, on the initiative of inventor and entrepreneur Alexander Walker Reid. The county and borough councils amalgamated on 1 April 1989 to form the Stratford District Council, which was reconstituted on 1 November 1989 as part of the nationwide restructure in local government.

Historic building

The Kings Theatre was given Category I status by Heritage New Zealand in 2024.

Stratford Shakespeare Festival

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival takes place in various venues across Stratford in April each year. It is presented by the Stratford Shakespeare Trust.

Schools

There are two secondary schools in Stratford:
  • Stratford High School is a coeducational secondary school with a roll of. The school was founded in 1897 and celebrated its centenary in 1997.
  • Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls is a state integrated Anglican girls' secondary school with a roll of. The school was founded in 1914 and moved to its present site in 1917. Most of the students are boarders. The school's name changed from St Mary's Diocesan School in 2018.
There are three primary schools within Stratford township:
  • Stratford Primary School has a roll of. The school was founded in 1882 and celebrated 125 years in 2007.
  • Avon School has a roll of. It opened in 1959.
  • St Joseph's School is a state integrated Catholic school with a roll of. It opened in 1897.
All these primary schools are coeducational and accept students for years 1–8. Rolls are as of

Parks and reserves

Stratford has a number of public parks and reserves, with names reflecting its English and Māori heritage;

Born or lived in Stratford

Sports people

Literature, art and culture

Medicine

Law, government and politics

Academics

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