Dargaville 643964 198808985 2008-03-17T07:24:00Z Gadfium 54381 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/121.44.183.214|121.44.183.214]] ([[User talk:121.44.183.214|talk]]) to last version by Gadfium [[Image:NZ-Dargaville.png|right|160px]] '''Dargaville''' is a town in the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]]. It is situated on the bank of the Northern [[Wairoa River, Northland|Wairoa River]] in the [[Northland Region|Northland]] region. The town is located 55 kilometres southwest of [[Whangarei]]. The population was 4455 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 75 from 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/2006-census-data/final-counts/northland-region.htm|title=Final counts – census night and census usually resident populations, and occupied dwellings - Kaipara District|publisher=[[Statistics New Zealand]]}}</ref> It is noted for the high proportion of residents of [[Dalmatia]]n descent. The area around it is one of the chief regions in the country for cultivating kumara ([[sweet potato]]) and so Dargaville is known by many locals as the Kumara Capital of New Zealand. ==History== [[Image:Dargaville gumdigger.jpg|thumb|Gumdigger statue at Dargaville]] The town is named after timber merchant and politician [[Joseph McMullen Dargaville]] (1837-1896). It was founded during the 19th century [[kauri]] gum and timber trade, and briefly had New Zealand's largest population. The area became known for a thriving industry that included [[Gum-digger|gum digging]] and kauri logging, which was based mainly at [[Te Kopuru]], several kilometres south of Dargaville on the banks of the Northern Wairoa river. The river was used to transport the huge logs downstream to shipbuilders and as a primary means of transport to Auckland. ==Geography== Dargaville also has one of the longest unbroken stretches of sand beach in New Zealand, and is largely drivable from one end to the other. This beach is home of the famous local shellfish delicacy called the [[toheroa]], a large and very tasty species, which was over-harvested in the 1950s and 1960s causing the population of the shellfish to decline so alarmingly that public gathering of the shellfish is now prohibited. Dargaville is also the gateway to the mighty [[Waipoua Forest]], now a protected national park and home of the biggest specimens of Kauri tree in New Zealand. [[Tane Mahuta]] (Maori, meaning "Lord of the Forest") being chief amongst them. ==Transport== Dargaville is on the junction of [[New Zealand State Highway network|State Highways 12 and 14]]. North of the town, the [[Donnelly's Crossing Section]] [[railway]] was established to provide access to other logging activities. The first portion of this line was opened in 1889, it reached its greatest extent in 1923, and after operating isolated from the [[Rail transport in New Zealand|national rail network]] for decades, it was connected with the [[North Auckland Line]] by the [[Dargaville Branch]] in 1940. The Donnelly's Crossing Section closed in 1959, but the Dargaville Branch continues to operate today as a freight-only line, though its future is less than certain. The area around Dargaville is now predominantly a farming region and supports extensive dairy, beef, and sheep farms, as well as a thriving plantation forest industry. Other attractions are the Kai Iwi lakes some 25 kilometres north of the town, and [[Pouto Peninsula]]. Baylys Beach is the local beach, just 13 kilometres from the township, and offers over 90 kilometres of rugged west coast surf. ==Education== [[Dargaville High School]] is a secondary (years 9-15) school with a roll of 528.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=19|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Dargaville High School|publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> The school opened in 1921, but was destroyed by fire in 1937 and rebuilt the following year.<ref>{{cite book|title=Tall Spars, Steamers & Gum|last=Ryburn|first=Wayne|year=1999|isbn=0-473-06176-7|pages=p 165}}</ref> [[Dargaville Intermediate]] is an intermediate (years 7-8) school with a roll of 166.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1008|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Dargaville Intermediate|publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> Both schools have a decile rating of 3. [[Dargaville Primary School]] and [[Selwyn Park School]] are contributing primary (years 1-6) schools with rolls of 401<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1009|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Dargaville Primary School|publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> and 128,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1097|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - Selwyn Park School|publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> respectively. Dargaville Primary was established by 1877. In 1879, it had a roll of 16, which grew to 155 in 1899.<ref>Ryburn, p 222</ref> It has a decile rating of 4. Selwyn Park celebrates its 50th Jubilee in 2008.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php?action=view&id=62422|title=Selwyn Park School, Dargaville 50th Jubilee|journal=Education Gazette New Zealand|volume=86|issue=8|date=[[21 May]] [[2007]]}}</ref> It has a decile rating of 1. [[St Joseph's School, Dargaville|St Joseph's School]] is a full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 114.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1098|title=Te Kete Ipurangi - St Joseph's School, Dargaville|St Josephs School|publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> It is a state integrated Catholic school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintjosephs.school.nz/principals_message.htm|title=Principal’s Message|publisher=St Joseph's School}}</ref> All these schools are coeducational. ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://communities.co.nz/Dargaville/Index.cfm Official website of Dargaville] * [http://dargavilleint.schoolzone.net.nz/ Dargaville Intermediate website] * [http://www.dargavilleprimary.school.nz/index.htm Dargaville Primary School website] * [http://www.saintjosephs.school.nz/ St Joseph's School website] {{coor title dm|35|56|S|173|53|E|region:NZ_type:city}} [[Category:Cities, towns and communities in New Zealand]] [[Category:Kaipara District]] [[de:Dargaville]] [[nl:Dargaville]] [[nn:Dargaville]] [[ru:Даргавилл]] [[sv:Dargaville]]