Horotiu

The name, Horotiu, seems to have been used interchangeably with Waikato River, or Pukete. Its first use for the current township seems to occur in 1864, shortly after the invasion of the Waikato. Until then, Horotiu was the name of the upper Waikato river, where its current became faster and of Horotiu pā, on its banks, near Cambridge. An 1858 map only shows the name as Horotiu Plains in the area near the pā. The name, Horotiu, for the Waikato River, upstream from Ngāruawāhia, seems to have remained in use until the 1920s, though the 1859 map named it as Waikato. but, until the 1900s, Horotiu was often referred to as Pukete, a name now used for the Hamilton suburb upstream. The railway station changed its name on 23 June 1907, when the proposed post office was referred to as Horotiu (Pukete), and the name of the school was changed from Pukete to Horotiu in 1911. The post office closed in 1988. == History ==

Ngāti Hauā had a pā named Horotiu near Cambridge and they also had land in this area. The 1858 census put the Ngāti Hauā population at 1,399. By then they had seeded this area with European grasses. Their land was confiscated in 1864. == Geography and geology ==

Taupō Pumice Alluvium (Q1a) was deposited on the Hinuera Formation (Q2a) until about 15,000 years ago. Some of the alluvium has been dug for sand and gravel. The Hinuera formation is also sand and gravel, interbedded with silt and some peat. In the last 14,000 years the Waikato River has cut into these formations, forming a low terrace and then cutting deeper. == Demographics ==

Stats NZ describes Horotiu as a rural settlement. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Horotiu had a population of 678 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (6.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 171 people (33.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 336 males and 339 females in 201 dwellings. 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 147 people (21.7%) aged under 15 years, 141 (20.8%) aged 15 to 29, 324 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (9.7%) aged 65 or older. In 2018 the census unit was reduced to about half its previous area, losing most to the west of the railway to Te Kowhai area unit. Growth to 1,390 is planned by 2040. == Economy ==

Auckland Farmers Cooperative (later Allied Farmers – AFFCO) bought in 1914 Horotiu Freezing Works opened on 17 January 1916. Horotiu still has AFFCO’s head office and its largest beef processing plant. The parent company, Talley's, opened a Waikato Dairy Co dried milk plant on the same site in August 2018. The area has long been associated with dairying, a casein factory having opened in 1919. AFFCO has long been involved with strikes and pollution. By 1904 the area was recognised as a source of gravel and pits were established by 1907, especially on the east bank, and continue to produce aggregates and take in clean fill. Other landfilling ended in 2006, when a 1999 consent The 1999 consent required use of a vacuum to extract gas from the bores and leachate. Northgate business park, between Horotiu and Te Rapa, covers Ports of Auckland have 33ha in Northgate for a freight hub. Te Awa Lakes is a site south east of Horotiu, beside the Waikato River. Development of a former sand and gravel pit started in 2021. It is planned to include shops, offices and 2,500 homes. An August 2023 City council meeting had a report that Te Awa Lakes could be the northern terminal of a bus rapid transit line to the airport. == Cycleway ==

The Horotiu-Pukete section of Te Awa River Ride opened in 2013 and an extension to Ngāruawāhia opened on 2 November 2017. == Bridges ==

Near Horotiu the Waikato is bridged by 2 roads and Te Awa cycleway. The next bridge upstream is Pukete sewer bridge and downstream, Ngāruawāhia road bridge. 1921 Horotiu Bridge Rd Construction started about 1920 of a reinforced concrete bridge, with a high arch, a main span of , plus six approach spans of , carrying a wide road. It was designed by Toogood and Jones, of Auckland, for £7900, paid by Waikato and Waipa County Councils, though government contributed £1,728. The bridge was completed in 1921, though the approaches took longer. 2001 Horotiu Bridge Rd The Category II listed bridge was deemed unsafe and replaced in 2001. Annual average daily traffic flows were 3,565 in 2010, 4,432 in 2016 and 5,969 in 2018, of which about 12% were heavy vehicles. 2013 Waikato Expressway bridge The need for the 2001 bridge was reduced by the long 2013 Waikato Expressway Te Rehu O Waikato Bridge, built upstream. As part of the $200m road section, it used 800 tonnes of steel, including 56-tonne girders, resting on 4 x V-shaped piers, which allowed the main span to be reduced about 20m to . Concrete pre-cast panels were added to them to carry the concrete deck and barriers. 2017 cycleway . Te Rehu O Waikato and Horotiu bridges in background. The Te Awa cycle bridge is a 140m long, 2.5m wide, $1.3m cable network arch bridge, opened on Thursday 2 November 2017. Since opening the average weekly use by cyclists rose from 133 to 711 and by walkers from 348 to 391. == Education ==

Horotiu School is a co-educational state primary school covering years 1 to 8 with a roll of as of The school dates back to 1879, following a government grant of the land in 1878. Horotiu also has a playcentre. == See also ==