Takapau

Takapau
Rural community
Takapau in 1958
Coordinates: 40°02′S 176°21′E / 40.033°S 176.350°E / -40.033; 176.350
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay
Territorial authority	Central Hawke's Bay District
Ward	Aramoana-Ruahine
Electorates	Wairarapa Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Central Hawke's Bay District Council
• Regional council	Hawke's Bay Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	3.18 km2 (1.23 sq mi)
Elevation	235 m (771 ft)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	700
• Density	220/km2 (570/sq mi)

Takapau is a small rural community in the Central Hawkes Bay in New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres west of Waipukurau, off State Highway 2, and has a population of more than 500.^[3]

The original township was founded in 1876 by farmer Sydney Johnston from Oruawharo station. Johnston's family donated land for a school and churches, and built the local library, public hall and, later, Plunket rooms. Many streets are named after members of the family.^[3]

Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry, and the community takes its name from the flax that grew in the expansive Takapau plains. The Māori word translates literally as "mat" or "carpet".^[3]

The largest business in Takapau is now the Silverfern Farms meat-processing plant, founded by the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Meat Company in 1981. Kintail Honey, one of country's largest honey-packing and beekeeping operations, is also based in the town.^[3]

There are two schools in Takapau. The Trappist monastery, the Southern Star Abbey, is also located nearby.