Cambridge, New Zealand


Cambridge is a town in the Waipa District of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions". The town has a population of, making it the largest town in the Waipa District, and third largest urban area in the Waikato.
Cambridge was a finalist in the 2017 and 2019 New Zealand's Most Beautiful Large Town awards, run by Keep New Zealand Beautiful. It was awarded the title New Zealand's Most Beautiful Large Town in October 2019.

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans there were a number of Maori pā in the vicinity of what would become Cambridge. In the 1850s missionaries and farmers from Britain settled in the area and introduced modern farming practices to local Maori, helping them set up two flour mills and importing grinding wheels from England and France. During the 1850s wheat was a profitable crop but when merchants in Auckland began purchasing cheaper grain from Australia the market went into decline.
The European town of Cambridge was established when the 3rd Regiment of the Waikato Militia were settled there in 1864 following the Invasion of the Waikato. The town was named after Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army at the time.

Governance

Cambridge is administered by the Waipa District Council. It is the largest town in the District, but not the seat of the council, which is at Te Awamutu.
Nationally, Cambridge is part of the general electorate and the Māori electorate.

Economy

Cambridge's main sources of employment and income come from dairy farming, tourism, the equine industry and sport. Dairy farming provides more than one in 10 jobs in the Waipa District. The tourism industry supports 12.7% of jobs in Waipa District. The equine industry provides more than 600 jobs in the Waikato, with many based in and around Cambridge. It is estimated that one in five Cambridge residents work in nearby Hamilton.

Transport

Cambridge lies adjacent to State Highway 1, which connects the town with Hamilton in the northwest and Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo in the southeast. Access to Cambridge from the north is via the Cambridge Road and Victoria Road interchanges, and from the south is via the Tirau Road interchange. Prior to the Waikato Expressway extension opening in December 2015, SH 1 ran through the centre of Cambridge.
State Highway 1B leaves SH 1 at the Victoria Road interchange and provides a route north to SH 1 at Taupiri, providing a route north towards Auckland while bypassing Hamilton to the east.
Hamilton Airport, 18 minutes drive from Cambridge, is the nearest airport and provides daily flights to all New Zealand's main centres.
A public bus service connects Cambridge with central Hamilton via Tamahere and Waikato University several times daily.
Cambridge was formerly the terminus of the Cambridge Branch railway, but this closed beyond Hautapu in 1999.
Until the railway was built the Waikato River was the main form of transport, Cambridge being the limit of navigation. Steamers continued to serve Cambridge until the 1930s. The wharf was near the Karapiro Stream, where the river was wide enough for steamers to turn.

Rural Districts

There are a number of nearby rural districts which identify socially and economically with Cambridge. These districts would typically have a few hundred residents, a primary school and a community hall for local social events. In the early 20th century, many of these districts also had their own small milk processing factories. These districts are Bruntwood, Goodwood/Fencourt, Hautapu, Hora Hora, Karapiro, Kaipaki, Maungatautari, Te Miro, and Whitehall.

Sport

;National sports headquarters
Cambridge and nearby Lake Karapiro have become the homes for national sports organisations such as cycling, rowing, triathlon and as high performance centres for kayaking and canoeing.
;Cycling
The national Home of Cycling, the Avantidrome, was opened by William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on 12 April 2014. In December 2015, Cambridge hosted the 2015–16 UCI Track Cycling World Cup. There are also many cycle and walking tracks that have been purpose built around Cambridge. The Te Awa River Ride currently has two paths open which are excellent for cyclists and walkers. The purpose built track runs from the center of Cambridge out to the Avantidrome and follows the beautiful Waikato river. There is also a wide cycleway running from Leamington to Lake Karapiro Domain which is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Cambridge will host the New Zealand National Road Race Championships and the accompanying time trial between the years of 2020 and 2022 with an option for a fourth year, the event will take place in mid February.
;Thoroughbred horse studs
The town is now well known for its Thoroughbred studs and stables, which have produced many champion horses in the sports of racing and show jumping. Cambridge is popularly known as the 'equine capital' of New Zealand. Internationally known thoroughbred studs in the area include:
;Rowing
Lake Karapiro, recognised as one of the premium rowing lakes in the world, is close by, producing several world rowing champions, notably Rob Waddell, Robbie Manson, the Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina and Caroline, Mahé Drysdale and James Dallinger. The 2010 World Rowing Championships were held at Lake Karapiro.
;Rugby Union
Cambridge is home to two clubs, Hautapu Sports Club, founded in 1903, and Leamington Rugby Sports Club, founded in 1897.
;Football
Cambridge is home to Cambridge FC who were the 2017 and 2015 Waikato Bay of Plenty Premiership champions, and Waipa Sports Club of the Year in 2014 and 2015.

Events

Cambridge and the surrounding district is host to many sporting, cultural and trade events. More than 120,000 visitors attend the National Agricultural Fieldays every June at the Mystery Creek Events Centre between Cambridge and Hamilton.
Every summer, Lake Karapiro hosts the Waka Ama Sprint National Championships and the hydroplane racing as part of the New Zealand Grand Prix Circuit. In February, the Keyte Watson Polo Tournament takes place at Leamington, Cambridge. Every March, Cambridge holds its four-day Autumn Festival and in December, a Christmas Festival takes place.
Cambridge's local annual event is the Battle of the Bridges, a rugby and netball competition between the two sports clubs in Cambridge, Leamington and Hautapu, however the trophy is awarded to the winning team in the rugby match. The event takes place in August each year. The first ever match between
the two sides, in 2013, ended in a 0–0 draw.

Media

Switch FM is a local radio station.
Cambridge also has two local newspapers, Cambridge News and the Cambridge Edition.
There is also a lively Facebook page that is used to share and request information and resources.

Education

is the town's co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students, with a roll of as of. Cambridge Middle School is the town's intermediate school for Year 7 to 10 students, with a roll of.
The town has three state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Cambridge East School with a roll of ; Cambridge School, with a roll of ; Leamington School, with a roll of.
Cambridge also has two non-state schools with similar names. St. Peter's School is a co-educational Anglican private school for Year 7 to 13 students, with a roll of.
St Peter's Catholic School is a co-educational Catholic integrated primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of.

Notable residents

Past or present residents include:
Cambridge was also the birthplace of All Black Sir Colin Meads KNZM MBE; George Albert Tuck and educationalist Blanche Eleanor Carnachan, MBE,.