Our History
Some Intro Text
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National Park Village – A Short History
National Park Village is right in the heart of volcano country. Situated at 825m above sea level it is the highest urban settlement in New Zealand with the mountains making pictures in our windows.
The first inhabitants were the stationmaster and his assistant in 1908 when the North Island Main Trunk line was completed. New Zealand Railways built the first houses for their staff which increased as traffic increased. The opening of the area led to a huge industry of timber extraction from the old native forests which ran for over fifty years with dozens of small sawmills providing solid and hazardous work for those pioneers.
There have been two further waves of development. The National Park Station in 1970 became the railhead for the Tongariro Power Development scheme’s supply of heavy building materials resulting in the local roads being upgraded from pumice to something more modern and more substantial. Tourism has grown from a few hardy trampers to over one million annually to the Tongariro National Park. Snow sports has a large following with up to 450,000 visiting the three ski areas and since 2009 mountain biking has attracted many. Completion of missing segments of the Mountains to Sea trail over the next two years will see another surge of bikers and walkers. One of the biggest impacts on the village has been the international travellers to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing providing a constant visitor flow during the summer months.
Significantly, a carved pou was installed by the Māori tribe of Uenuku in 2022 as part of their historical claims of dispossession of land and their growing interest in the future of National Park Village.
Today National Park Village is a recognised tourist destination with our Park & Ride supporting the important transport services of train, bus and local shuttles.
Today National Park Village is a recognised tourist destination with our Park & Ride supporting the important transport services of train, bus and local shuttles.
Historic Timeline For National Park Village
1883
JH Kerry Nichols 600-mile expedition. Stays at Waimarino Pa.
1885
White Elephant Bridge built over Makatote River. J. Rochfort
1895
Fisher Road (Retaruke-Waimarino Road) built.
1908
Waimarino Railway Station opened with a Stationmaster and assistant.
1916
Post Office opened at the Railway Station. Closed 1940.
1917
Road to Tokaanu opened.
1919
Boon Brothers sawmill built north of National Park.
1921
Waikune Prison operated until 1996.
1925
Marton Sash & Door Co sawmill and tramline operated until 1954.
1925
Waimarino School. Later became National Park School.
1926
Waimarino Station becomes National Park Station.
1929
Chateau Tongariro built in nine months.
1938
National Park Police Station opened. Wilks was the first constable.
1940’s
National Park Station was one of the busiest with log exports by rail north & south from 30 sawmills.
1951
Electricity became available in National Park.
1964
NP Station was the railhead for Tongariro Power Development Scheme which finished in 1985.
1960’s
Ski Industry development with Roy Turner Ski Shop, Eivins Tea Rooms & Ski Shop, Abbots Lodge and Pipers Ski Lodge.
1970’s
NP town water supply and town sewerage schemes built with a big financial impact on the village rates.
1970’s
National Park Post Office closed. Postal Agency established at Martin Taituma’s store in Carroll Street.
1988
Kiwi Lager Express operated a ski train on winter weekends for two seasons.
1990’s
Tongariro Crossing gets a name and commercial trips begin.
1990’s
Mountain biking underway. The 42 Traverse. Mud Track. Fishers Track. Timber Trail. Mountains to Sea Trail, Marton Sash & Door Trail. First bike rentals available from Ski Haus.
1995-96
Mount Ruapehu Erupts. NPBA is formed. First meeting at National Park Hotel.
1999
National Park Village Strategy Plan prepared by Sue Slegers & Jenni Wilson for NPPA & NPBA. Adopted by Council in 2008, 2012 & 2022.
????
Mainstreet Programme delivers verge treatment, Caroll Street decorative lights and some street drainage.
2001
Tongariro Timber Co sawmill closes.
2008
Tupapakurua Falls Track developed. Conservation award made to NPPA.
2009
Sparkling Spring opens a water bottling plant on the old Tongariro Timber Co sawmill site extracting high quality water from a 137m deep aquifer.
2012
Marton Sash & Door Walking and Cycle Trail opened.
2019
National Park Village Park & Ride, and Kiwi Camp facility opened.
2020-21
COVID pandemic travel restrictions has major impacts of visitor numbers.
2021
Town Revitalisation Fund. National Park Village allocated $1 million. District $10 million.
2023
Te Korowai o Wainuiarua signs Deed of Settlement with the Crown. Some sections in NPV on offer to TKW.
2023
New Zealand Geographic Board changes the official name of National Park to Waimarino, and National Park Station to National Park Railway Station.