{{short description|Rural community in Manawatū-Whanganui Region, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Tangiwai | native_name = | native_name_lang = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead --> | settlement_type = Rural community | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | etymology = | nickname = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 5 | coordinates = {{coord|39.465856|S|175.576329|E|region:NZ_type:city(200)|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Manawatū-Whanganui | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = Ruapehu District | subdivision_type4 = Ward | subdivision_name4 = {{ubl|Ruapehu General Ward|Ruapehu Māori Ward}} | subdivision_type5 = Community | subdivision_name5 = Waimarino-Waiouru Community | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|Rangitīkei|Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)}} | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = Ruapehu District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Horizons Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Ruapehu | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Ruapehu District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = Rangitīkei MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Rangitīkei MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Te Tai Hauāuru MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Hauāuru MP|y}} | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | postal_code_type = Postcode(s) | postal_code = 4691 | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} '''Tangiwai''' is a {{Convert|2696.66|km2|sqmi|sigfig=3|abbr=off|adj=on}}<ref name="Area"/> census area<ref>{{Cite web|title=2018 Census place summaries|url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/tangiwai|access-date=2020-10-18|website=www.stats.govt.nz}}</ref> and a small rural community in the Ruapehu District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located east of Ohakune and Rangataua and west of Waiouru on State Highway 49.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Tangiwai, Manawatu-Wanganui|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz49801/Tangiwai/|access-date=2020-10-17|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en}}</ref> In 2018, 37.5% of the area's 1,281 residents worked in agriculture, forestry and fishing and 7.1% in manufacturing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Industry sector of employment {{!}} Ruapehu District Council {{!}} Community profile|url=https://profile.idnz.co.nz/ruapehu/industries?WebID=150|access-date=2020-10-17|website=profile.idnz.co.nz}}</ref>
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "weeping water" for {{lang|mi|Tangiwai}}.<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 August 2019|title=1000 Māori place names|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage}}</ref>
New Zealand's worst rail accident, the Tangiwai disaster, occurred near Tangiwai on 24 December 1953. The Whangaehu River rail bridge collapsed beneath a Wellington-to-Auckland express passenger train. The locomotive and first six carriages derailed into the river, killing 151 people. The subsequent Board of Inquiry found that the accident was caused by the collapse of the tephra dam holding back nearby Mount Ruapehu's crater lake, creating a large lahar in the Whangaehu River, which destroyed one of the bridge piers at Tangiwai only minutes before the train reached the bridge.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Christmas lost'', Le Cren, John|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/32966329?search%5Bi%5D%5Bsubject%5D=Tangiwai+Rail+Disaster%2C+Tangiwai%2C+N.Z.%2C+1953&search%5Bi%5D%5Busage%5D=All+rights+reserved&search%5Bpath%5D=items|access-date=23 June 2018|publisher=National Library of New Zealand - natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> A memorial has been built at the accident site.
Tirorangi Marae and Rangiteauria meeting house is located in the Tangiwai area.<ref name="maorimaps2">{{cite web|title=Māori Maps|url=https://maorimaps.com/map|website=maorimaps.com|publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref> It is a traditional meeting ground of the Ngāti Rangi hapū of Ngāti Rangihaereroa, Ngāti Rangiteauria and Ngāti Tongaiti.<ref name="tkmentry2">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url=http://www.tkm.govt.nz/|website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}</ref>
==Demographics== Tangiwai statistical area, which includes Rangataua and which surrounds but does not include Raetihi, Ohakune and Waiouru, covers {{Convert|2696.66|km2|sqmi}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=8 November 2025}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Tangiwai|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Tangiwai|y}}|R}}/2696.66|2}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.
{{Historical populations|2006|1,368|2013|1,227|2018|1,281|2023|1,449|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the statistical area|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Tangiwai (222900)|tangiwai|Tangiwai}}</ref>}} The statistical area had a population of 1,449 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 168 people (13.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 222 people (18.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 786 males, 660 females, and 3 people of other genders in 627 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.222900.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 300 people (20.7%) aged under 15 years, 210 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 696 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 240 (16.6%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 78.9% European (Pākehā); 36.2% Māori; 2.7% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori by 6.2%, and other languages by 5.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 27.5% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 5.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 0.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.6%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 168 (14.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 705 (61.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 276 (24.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 123 people (10.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 645 (56.1%) full-time, 186 (16.2%) part-time, and 27 (2.3%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.222900.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Tangiwai (222900)}}</ref>
== Timber == thumb|300x300px|Tangiwai in 2011, showing pulp mill to west and timber mill and forest to the north of the railway George Syme & Co ran a saw mill to cut totara, rimu, matai and kahikatea, linked to the station by a {{Convert|1+1/4|mi|km|abbr=off|adj=on}} tramway<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 September 1910|title=LOCAL AND GENERAL. HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HNS19100906.2.12|access-date=2020-11-05|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> from 1908<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en|archive-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074304/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> until 1930.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 May 1930|title=A Giant is Stricken MANAWATU TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19300510.2.75|access-date=2020-11-01|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> The mill burnt down in 1926.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 August 1926|title=DESTRUCTION BY FIRE. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19260803.2.44|access-date=2020-11-05|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref>
Karioi state forest was set up in November 1926, with {{Convert|33516|acre|sqmi+km2|abbr=on}} set aside for forestry, and taken on by New Zealand Forest Service from 31 March 1927.<ref name=":5" /> It stretches about {{Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} north east from Tangiwai onto the southern slopes of Ruapehu.<ref>{{Cite web|title=KARIOI FOREST, Manawatu-Wanganui|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz50058/KARIOI-FOREST/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en}}</ref> By March 1931, over 10.7m trees had been planted on {{Convert|11650|acre||abbr=on}}, for £56,524, 15s 10d.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Andrew Francis, Tony Walzl|date=5 June 2009|title=WAI903 The Introduction of Pinus Contorta into New Zealand|url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_93878720/Wai%20903%2C%20A170.pdf|website=Waitangi Tribunal}}</ref> Most of the planting was on land with cobalt deficiency and therefore considered unsuitable for farming,<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 February 1929|title=STATE AFFORESTATION. WAIKATO TIMES|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19290228.2.114|access-date=2020-10-26|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> though it also included at least {{Convert|700|acre|sqmi+km2|abbr=on}} of flax.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 November 1927|title=Waikato Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19271109.2.4.2|access-date=2020-11-05|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}</ref> Trees have been harvested since the late 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|title=Waimarino|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/whanganui-places/page-7|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |language=en}}</ref> Winstone Pulp International (WPI) bought {{Convert|13893|ha||abbr=on}} of Waimarino Forest in 1989 and cutting rights to {{Convert|11056|ha|acre+km2|abbr=on}} of Karioi Forest in 1990.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Welcome|url=http://www.wpi-international.co.nz/web/guest/home|access-date=2020-10-15|website=www.wpi-international.co.nz}}</ref>
=== Sawmill === To cut the timber, MSD Spiers built Tangiwai Sawmill beside the railway station in 1966.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en|archive-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074304/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was bought by nearby pulp mill owner, Winstone Pulp International Ltd (WPI), in 1993<ref name=":1" /> and upgraded to mill over {{Convert|100000|m3|abbr=off}} a year, using {{Convert|200000|m3||abbr=on}} of logs, a planer, optimiser, dry-sheds, kilns and a {{Convert|5|MW||abbr=on}} wood waste heat plant, added in 2001.<ref name=":0" /> In April 2008, Ernslaw One Ltd purchased WPI.<ref name=":1" /> Ernslaw One owned by the Malaysian Tiong Family, bought WPI for $117,293,314.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Decision 200810027 - Ernslaw One Limited|url=https://www.linz.govt.nz/overseas-investment/decision-summaries-statistics/2008-03/200810027|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)|language=en-NZ}}</ref> WPI employed about 300 staff. At 30 September 2006, its forest crop was valued at $83m and its fixed assets at $38.7m. It earned $131m, but lost $10.1m. Ernslaw One also has forests and mills in Gisborne, Naseby and Tapanui.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-02-17|title=Malaysian firm to buy Winstone Pulp|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/162827/Malaysian-firm-to-buy-Winstone-Pulp|access-date=2020-10-16|website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref>
=== Pulp mill === A further use for the timber was the pulp mill, though it had a troubled beginning. It produces {{Convert|100000|m3||abbr=on}} a year when running a single-shift. It is mainly used for newsprint and paperboard, much of it exported<ref name=":1" /> through New Plymouth,<ref>{{Cite book|last=New Zealand Parliament House of Representatives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQgPAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1885|title=Parliamentary Debates|date=1978-08-15|language=en}}</ref> then CentrePort Wellington<ref name=":1" /> and now Napier.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PORT OF NAPIER LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 2014|url=https://www.napierport.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Annual-Report-2014.pdf}}</ref> A {{Convert|12|MW||abbr=on}} bark furnace and a heat exchanger recover {{Convert|3|MW||abbr=on}} of heat from steam for drying the pulp, electricity and LPG supplying the other energy. Excess heat is used to dry timber from the sawmill.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Good Oil|url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-good-oil/|access-date=2020-10-16|website=New Zealand Geographic|language=en-NZ}}</ref> In 2004 the mill had 145 staff.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Second plant shuts as power cost rockets|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/second-plant-shuts-as-power-cost-rockets/PLOT6EZNH4DSZQF7OHPXAXKUOE/|access-date=2020-10-18|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
In 1976 Winstone and Chonju Paper Manufacturing, a Samsung subsidiary, built a thermo-mechanical pulp mill, almost {{Convert|3|km||abbr=on}} north of the sawmill.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Winstones Company History|url=http://www.businesshistory.auckland.ac.nz/winstones/key_events.html|access-date=2020-10-16|website=www.businesshistory.auckland.ac.nz}}</ref> In 1978 the first load of logs was delivered to the mill.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Truck Archive > HoF Inductees > 2019 > Mark McCarthy|url=http://truckarchive.co.nz/video/HoFInductees/2019/MarkMcCarthy.aspx|access-date=2020-10-16|website=truckarchive.co.nz}}</ref> At least 70% of the pulp was to go to Chonju, but, when the mill came on stream in 1979, prices for pulp and newspaper had fallen and the pulp was of variable quality. In 1981 the mill was caught up in the Think Big debate,<ref name=":4" /> when the government took $10m in preference shares and made a $5m loan. Losses that year were $7.133m and rose to $11m. Later in 1981 H.W. Smith Ltd, a company linked with Brierley Investments Ltd, increased its 10% holding in Winstone to 24.9% and to 27% in 1983.<ref name=":3" /> Brierley gained full control of Winstone when the government sold its interests.<ref name=":1" /> The last remaining director from the Winstone family, Donald, retired. In early 1988, Fletcher Challenge bought Winstone for $444m. Karioi was sold within months<ref name=":3" /> to a Hong Kong investment company. The current name of Winstone Pulp International Ltd was adopted.<ref name=":1" /> WPI was sold to Ernslaw One group in 2008.<ref name=":1" />
=== 2024 mills closure === In August 2024, Winstone Pulp International proposed closing its two central North Island mills due to high power prices. During a public meeting in Raetihi on 27 August, Mayor of Ruapehu Weston Kirton urged the New Zealand Government to offer an electrical subsidy to Winstones' mills. National Party Member of Parliament Suze Redmayne responded that the Government was working with electrical utility companies to find solutions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Alexa |title=Winstone Pulp: Emotional meeting held over mill closures |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526348/winstone-pulp-emotional-meeting-held-over-mill-closures |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=RNZ |date=28 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910070737/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/526348/winstone-pulp-emotional-meeting-held-over-mill-closures |archive-date=10 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 September 2024, the company confirmed that it would close down its Karioi pulp mill and Tangiwai timber mill by October 2024, leading to the loss of 230 jobs.<ref name="NZH 10 Sep 2024">{{cite news |title=Winstone Pulp International closes operations at Ruapehu mills; hundreds of jobs lost |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/winstone-pulp-international-closes-operations-at-ruapehu-mills-hundreds-of-jobs-lost/G6ZKXD7SV5BAJJG24V3ZJDPHZQ/ |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=Whanganui Chronicle |publisher=NZME |date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910050739/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/winstone-pulp-international-closes-operations-at-ruapehu-mills-hundreds-of-jobs-lost/G6ZKXD7SV5BAJJG24V3ZJDPHZQ/ |archive-date=10 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="RNZ 10 Sep 2024">{{cite news |title=Hundreds of jobs lost as Winstone shuts mills |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527590/hundreds-of-jobs-lost-as-winstone-shuts-mills |access-date=10 September 2024 |work=RNZ |date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910062536/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527590/hundreds-of-jobs-lost-as-winstone-shuts-mills |archive-date=10 September 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> WPI chief executive Mike Ryan attributed the closure to the "dual impact" of "uncompetitive" energy prices in New Zealand and the relatively low current and forecast mark prices for pulp and timber." Ryan confirmed that WPI would support staff by helping them to find jobs with other industry players, work with the Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue Department to support retrenched staff and provide access to wellbeing providers and financial advisers.<ref name="NZH 10 Sep 2024" />
WPI had previously criticised high power prices for making its business operations unsustainable, which was disputed by electrical utility company Mercury Energy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Jamie |title=Mercury, Winstone Pulp in war of words over power price claims |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/mercury-winstone-pulp-in-war-of-words-over-power-price-claims/6ZHBXY22FJGU5KMUZNQLGU4G74/ |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=29 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905174643/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/mercury-winstone-pulp-in-war-of-words-over-power-price-claims/6ZHBXY22FJGU5KMUZNQLGU4G74/ |archive-date=5 September 2024}}</ref> On 5 August, the company had also temporarily paused operations at both Karioi and Tangiwai, citing high energy prices.<ref name="NZH 10 Sep 2024" /> In response to WPI's closure proposal, workers had unsuccessfully petitioned to save the mills and made 189 submissions to improve the mills and cut down on costs.<ref name="RNZ 10 Sep 2024" /> RNZ reported that many employees had said that the mill's closure would lead to job losses in the Ruapehu District and cause families to migrate to Australia for work in the timber industry.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cook |first1=Alexa |title='Just stunned silence': Mill closure shocks rural community |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527621/just-stunned-silence-mill-closure-shocks-rural-community |access-date=11 September 2024 |work=RNZ |date=11 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911020449/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527621/just-stunned-silence-mill-closure-shocks-rural-community |archive-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
First Union and E tū issued a joint statement describing the mills' closure as "devastating." First Union general secretary Dennis Maga thanked the local mayors and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones for fighting to keep the mills open but criticised the Government for not intervening to address the impact of its previous energy reforms.<ref name="RNZ 10 Sep 2024" /> Ruapehu Mayor Kirton described the mills' closures as a "massive blow to Ruapehu and our communities." He confirmed that the Ruapehu District Council would work with WINZ and its iwi partners to support affected workers.<ref name="NZH 10 Sep 2024" /> Energy Minister Simeon Brown defended the New Zealand Government's decision not to intervene, describing it as a "commercial decision." In response, Labour's small business and manufacturing spokesperson Helen White criticised the Government for not doing more to keep the mills open.<ref name="RNZ 10 Sep 2024" />
In early June 2025, Stuff reported that the close of the Winestone pulp and timber mills had adversely affected the nearby township of Raetihi, leading to emigration and economic decline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Erin |title='Domino effect’ of mill closures leaves town in fight for survival |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360743989/domino-effect-mill-closures-leaves-town-fight-survival |access-date=8 July 2025 |work=Stuff |date=6 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250708091642/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360743989/domino-effect-mill-closures-leaves-town-fight-survival |archive-date=8 July 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Climate==
{{Weather box|width=auto |metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Tangiwai (Karioi Forest) (5km WSW of Tangiwai, 1971–2000 normals, extremes 1930–1987) | Jan record high C = 29.4 | Feb record high C = 31.2 | Mar record high C = 29.2 | Apr record high C = 26.7 | May record high C = 21.8 | Jun record high C = 19.3 | Jul record high C = 16.7 | Aug record high C = 18.9 | Sep record high C = 23.9 | Oct record high C = 24.8 | Nov record high C = 27.2 | Dec record high C = 29.7 | year record high C = | Jan avg record high C = 26.4 | Feb avg record high C = 26.7 | Mar avg record high C = 24.3 | Apr avg record high C = 21.4 | May avg record high C = 17.8 | Jun avg record high C = 15.6 | Jul avg record high C = 14.3 | Aug avg record high C = 15.5 | Sep avg record high C = 17.3 | Oct avg record high C = 20.2 | Nov avg record high C = 22.7 | Dec avg record high C = 24.3 | year avg record high C = 27.5 | Jan high C = 21.2 | Feb high C = 21.4 | Mar high C = 19.5 | Apr high C = 16.1 | May high C = 12.4 | Jun high C = 10.1 | Jul high C = 9.3 | Aug high C = 10.5 | Sep high C = 12.1 | Oct high C = 14.8 | Nov high C = 17.0 | Dec high C = 19.2 | year high C = | Jan mean C = 15.3 | Feb mean C = 15.3 | Mar mean C = 13.6 | Apr mean C = 10.8 | May mean C = 7.9 | Jun mean C = 6.0 | Jul mean C = 5.2 | Aug mean C = 6.0 | Sep mean C = 7.6 | Oct mean C = 9.8 | Nov mean C = 11.6 | Dec mean C = 13.6 | year mean C = | Jan low C = 9.4 | Feb low C = 9.2 | Mar low C = 7.7 | Apr low C = 5.6 | May low C = 3.5 | Jun low C = 1.9 | Jul low C = 1.2 | Aug low C = 1.5 | Sep low C = 3.2 | Oct low C = 4.9 | Nov low C = 6.2 | Dec low C = 8.0 | year low C = | Jan avg record low C = 3.0 | Feb avg record low C = 2.2 | Mar avg record low C = 1.6 | Apr avg record low C = -0.3 | May avg record low C = -2.9 | Jun avg record low C = -4.5 | Jul avg record low C = -4.4 | Aug avg record low C = -3.6 | Sep avg record low C = -2.5 | Oct avg record low C = -1.5 | Nov avg record low C = 0.0 | Dec avg record low C = 1.7 | year avg record low C = -5.8 |Jan record low C = -1.1 |Feb record low C = -2.8 |Mar record low C = -3.6 |Apr record low C = -5.6 |May record low C = -8.1 |Jun record low C = -8.3 |Jul record low C = -9.6 |Aug record low C = -9.7 |Sep record low C = -7.3 |Oct record low C = -7.7 |Nov record low C = -4.4 |Dec record low C = -4.4 |year record low C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 94.6 |Feb rain mm = 56.8 |Mar rain mm = 76.5 |Apr rain mm = 74.6 |May rain mm = 133.3 |Jun rain mm = 102.6 |Jul rain mm = 134.4 |Aug rain mm = 100.3 |Sep rain mm = 110.3 |Oct rain mm = 96.1 |Nov rain mm = 76.6 |Dec rain mm = 120.0 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA<ref>{{cite web |url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/ |title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 3623) |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 13 Sep 2024}}</ref> }}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Ruapehu District}} Category:Populated places in Manawatū-Whanganui Category:Ruapehu District Category:Forests of New Zealand