Ngaere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ngaere
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 Ngaere
Location in Taranaki Region
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki |
| District | Stratford District |
Ngaere is a village situated on State Highway 3, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Stratford, New Zealand. The name "Ngaere" means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland.
For a time, the name was spelt "Ngaire", but it was changed to its Māori spelling in 1909.
Contents
Attractions
Ngaere Gardens, which once hosted a menagerie of exotic animals, was a popular picnic spot for early 20th century families. Several attempts at resurrecting the gardens have been to no avail. The gardens have now been cleared, and all that remains now is the large lake, and a number of mature exotic trees.
Another well-known landmark is the Ngaere dairy factory, founded in 1914. It produced its own brand of cheese called "Triumph". The Ngaere factory closed in 1973, after the Ngaere dairy cooperative merged into the Taranaki dairy cooperative. Since its closure, the factory has been put to many uses - as a clothing factory, an indoor cricket arena, a rave dance hall, and currently a saw mill.
Ngaere had a service station, which closed in the 1990s. The building has been put to a variety of uses, including as a brewery and a health shop. It is currently a motorcycle repair shop. "Fred's Place" is well known for its antiques.
Local Legends
Maori legend says that the Ngaere swamp was formed when Mt. Taranaki stopped and wept on its journey to its current resting place. Most of the swamp was drained in the early 20th century for dairy farming.
Name
It has been speculated that Ngaere, which until 1909 was spelt Ngaire, is the origin of the name Ngaire, a common girl's name in New Zealand.
Education
Ngaere School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 8 and a roll of 138. The school was founded in 1882.
