The History of Rongotea
Rongotea was formerly known as Campbelltown. The change from Campbelltown to Rongotea occurred around 1895-1896, the reason being that there was another Campbelltown in the South Island and this caused problems with the postal deliveries.
The meaning of Rongotea is “Good News”.
All the streets in Rongotea are named after English Rivers.
The streets in Rongotea are all lined with flowering cherry trees which were all kindly donated in 1999-2000.
The early settlers mainly came from England and Europe.
In its time Rongotea was a thriving business area and it was the hub of the Te Kawau District.
In the early days Rongotea was known as the Holy City as it had seven churches and no hotels. The churches were; Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist, Brethren, Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian.
The meaning of Rongotea is “Good News”.
All the streets in Rongotea are named after English Rivers.
The streets in Rongotea are all lined with flowering cherry trees which were all kindly donated in 1999-2000.
The early settlers mainly came from England and Europe.
In its time Rongotea was a thriving business area and it was the hub of the Te Kawau District.
In the early days Rongotea was known as the Holy City as it had seven churches and no hotels. The churches were; Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan Methodist, Brethren, Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian.
Building sites of interest in Rongotea
The Catholic and Anglican Churches were built in 1895 and are still in regular use today.
The Post Office opened in 1906 and closed in 1988 and is now a residence.
The BNZ Bank opened in 1908 and closed in 1988 and is now the Community Centre. It is a listed building.
Rongotea Lodge 146 opened in 1907 and is still in use today.
The building which now houses Wood Turners Manawatu was built in 1881.
The site of the Rongotea Sale yards was established in 1918 however the first sale took place in Rongotea in 1879.
The Dairy Factory – the original building opened in 1893 as a milk processing factory and due to increasing demand a new one on the same site was built in 1911. This subsequently closed in 1966 and was reopened in 1966 as Consolidated Traders processing and packaging wild game. This factory closed and then reopened as Bergs Game (1982), closing in 1989.
W. Amey & Co Ltd. This building was built in 1927, however the business started in Rongotea in 1919.
The Rongotea School site was established in 1881 and a part of the existing School was built 1926.
Rongotea War Memorial was erected after World War One.
The Rongotea Cemetery site was established in 1895.
The Post Office opened in 1906 and closed in 1988 and is now a residence.
The BNZ Bank opened in 1908 and closed in 1988 and is now the Community Centre. It is a listed building.
Rongotea Lodge 146 opened in 1907 and is still in use today.
The building which now houses Wood Turners Manawatu was built in 1881.
The site of the Rongotea Sale yards was established in 1918 however the first sale took place in Rongotea in 1879.
The Dairy Factory – the original building opened in 1893 as a milk processing factory and due to increasing demand a new one on the same site was built in 1911. This subsequently closed in 1966 and was reopened in 1966 as Consolidated Traders processing and packaging wild game. This factory closed and then reopened as Bergs Game (1982), closing in 1989.
W. Amey & Co Ltd. This building was built in 1927, however the business started in Rongotea in 1919.
The Rongotea School site was established in 1881 and a part of the existing School was built 1926.
Rongotea War Memorial was erected after World War One.
The Rongotea Cemetery site was established in 1895.
