DescriptionWaihaorunga is a rural area in the Waimate District. The name Waihaorunga translates as 'water with eels at the top' (source nzhistory.govt.nz).
The first pastoral licence that included Waihaorunga was granted in 1854. Large pastoral runs and estates existed in the area until 1900 when they were divided up into smaller farms. The resulting increase in settlement lead to the opening of a primary school. This school voluntarily closed in 2009.
For more information on the history of the European settlement of Waihaorunga see 'The Waihaorunga story: community recollections past and present' by Margaret Powell (follow the link below for more information)
