Tawa, New Zealand
| Tawa | |
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Tawa's main shopping centre, photographed in December 2005.
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 Tawa
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| Basic information | |
| Local authority | Wellington City |
| Electoral ward | Ohariu, Mana |
| Coordinates | 41°10′17.64″S 174°49′29.23″E / 41.1715667°S 174.8247861°ECoordinates: 41°10′17.64″S 174°49′29.23″E / 41.1715667°S 174.8247861°E |
| Population | 13,764(2006) |
| Facilities | |
| Railway station(s) | Takapau Road, Redwood, Tawa, Linden, Kenepuru |
| Surrounds | |
| North | Porirua |
| South | Grenada Village |
| Southwest | Churton Park |
| West | Ohariu |
Tawa is the northernmost suburb within the Wellington city boundary, located roughly 15 km north of Wellington's CBD between Churton Park and Porirua in the North Island of New Zealand. It takes its name from the broadleaf tree, which was once prolific throughout the area, although its most famous tree is the Bucket Tree, a large macrocarpa with the topiary of an upside-down bucket. Tawa is also known for its large number of churches, representing a wide range of Christian denominations.
The suburb of Tawa occupies the Tawa Basin. Within Tawa, there are a number of named areas: Lindenvale, Westhaven, Redwood and Southgate to the west and Linden, Greenacres and Sundale to the east of the central Tawa area.
Tawa is located in a roughly north/south valley which opens up on the north into the Porirua Basin. The valley is about 4.5 km in length (north to south) and 2.5 km wide (east to west). The Belmont range, to the east, separates the Tawa valley from the Hutt Valley, while the Ohariu Valley is located to the west of Tawa. The northern entrance to Tawa is where Kenepuru Drive becomes Main Road, and its southern entrance the Tawa exit of State Highway 1. The Porirua Stream flows along the valley, fed by a number of tributaries, including the Takapu Stream.
Loosely following the path of the Porirua Stream through the valley is the North Island Main Trunk Line, which is the Kapiti Line of the Wellington suburban railway, operated by Tranz Metro. Slightly to the east, the Johnsonville-Porirua Motorway, a dual-carriageway section of State Highway 1, also follows a similar path. Both have played an important role in the suburb's development and in providing access. The literally named Main Road runs down the centre of the suburb and provides access to the smaller suburban streets. Main Road and Kenepuru Drive were part of State Highway 1 before the motorway was built in the 1950s.
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