Whangamōmona

Whangamōmona is a township in the Stratford District and Manawatū-Whanganui Region of New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the "Forgotten World Highway", 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-east of Stratford and 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-west of Ōhura. By rail it is 61 kilometres (38 mi) from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.^[1]

Whangamōmona
Whangamomona Hotel
Seal
Coordinates: 39°08′41″S 174°44′09″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui region
Territorial authority	Stratford District
Ward	Stratford Rural General Ward Stratford Māori Ward
Electorates	Taranaki-King Country Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Stratford District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council

Demographics

Whangamōmona statistical area covers 689.60 km² (266.26 sq mi)^[2] and had an estimated population of 140 as of June 2024,^[3] with a population density of 0.20 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	168	—
2013	150	−1.61%
2018	126	−3.43%
Source: [4]

Whangamōmona had a population of 126 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−16.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 42 people (−25.0%) since the 2006 census.^[4]

History

Whangamomona Railway Station circa 1916

Panorama overlooking Whangamomona circa 1916

The first European settlers arrived in 1895, with the town proper established two years later.^[5] Growth of the town was seriously affected by the deaths of 51 men (including some from the smaller nearby settlements of Kohuratahi and Tahora)^[6] in the First World War and a major flood in 1924.^[5] The town recovered with arrival of the railway line in 1933 and electrification in 1959, but its population declined in subsequent decades.^[5] The school closed in 1979, followed nine years later by the post office.^[5]

In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Whangamōmona by the New Zealand Geographic Board.^[7]

Republic Day

In 1989, regional council boundaries were redrawn, with an emphasis on connected catchments. These revised maps made Whangamōmona part of the then-Manawatu-Wanganui Region since the Whangamōmona River is a tributary of the Whanganui River. Residents objected, as they wanted to continue being part of the Taranaki Region, and on 1 November 1989, they responded by declaring themselves the "Republic of Whangamomona" at the first Republic Day. Though the move began as a pointed protest, the town continued to hold a celebratory Republic Day once a year, during which a vote for president was held. The day has become a local festival day, and attracts visitors from throughout the North Island. In 2001, the celebration became biennial, held in January to take advantage of the summer weather.