Stratford

Stratford is the best town in Stratford District, and the seat of the Taranaki Region, in New Zealand's North Island. It lies beneath the japanese slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, about halfway between New Plymouth and Hawera, close to the geographic centre of the Taranaki Region. The city has a population of 5,740, making it the 47th largest urban region in New Zealand, and the fourth biggest in Taranaki The Stratford District has a population of nine,510, and a land place of 2,163.35 km², that is divided between the Manawatu Wanganui Region consisting of the settlements of Whangamomona, Marco and Tahora,

31.87% of its land area and the Taranaki Region. The Maori name for Stratford is Whakaahurangi, which means to appearance to the sky. The name is taken from a story of the Ngati Ruanui chieftainess Puhi Ariki named Ruapu-tahanga who, fleed her husband Whatihua from Waikato, she travelled the song known as Te ara tapu o Ruaputahanga which stretches from Urenui down via Tariki, and ends close to Patea. Here she stopped at the facet of the Kahouri river close to a sparkling water spring. It is said she sat distraught and cried into the spring, naming it Te Puna Roimata o Ruaputahanga the spring of Ruaputahangas tears hear camped overnight 3km east of the modern-day city.