The Hub of the Plains

Ngatea was established in the early 1900’s as one of the service centres for the Hauraki Plains.  Following the construction of the bridge over the Piako River, Ngatea was on the through road from Auckland to the Bay of Plenty. 

Land was acquired to form the Ngatea Domain as the focal point of the town.  At the same time land was available for residential development north of the town.

In the late 1970’s further land was purchased south of the town and residential development has continued at a steady rate.  The population doubled in 20 years.  In the 2001 census the population stood at 1,071.

Today Ngatea still serves the same function as a rural service center.

Increased through traffic on State Highway 2 now means Ngatea business is also centered around serving the needs of the traveling public.

Ngatea is now within commuting distance of Auckland.  The town boasts Thames Valley’s only artificial surface hockey facility.  All recreational needs are catered for within easy distance of the town. 

Hauraki Plains enjoys a mild climate and moderate rainfall.  Dairy farming is also the largest employer within the District with 33% of the labour force being employed in this activity as at the 1996 census.

To celebrate the start of the new millennium, the local community recreated a unique part of their past: a working model of the central span of the original Piako River Bridge (1917 - 1960). The model has been built in the Tilbury Reserve adjacent to the original site.   (...read more about the Millennium Bridge)