Cambridge, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Cambridge is a town in the Waikato
region of the North Island
of New Zealand
. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton
, on the banks of the Waikato River
, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850's missionaries and farmers from Britain settled in the area and guided Maori in modern farming practices -helping them set up 2 flour mills in Cambridge and importing grinding wheels from England. Wheat was one of the main crops grown in those days. During the 1850s it was a prosperous time with migrants arriving in Auckland and high prices.However merchants in Auckland began purchasing cheaper grain from Australia and the market went into decline. Maori had established their own bank in a whare in Cambridge but the money was stolen by the chiefs in charge. There was a riot when the depositers burnt the bank down days. Kingitanga rebels threatened the European who were all forced to leave in 1863.
With a population of 15,192 as of the 2006 census, it is the biggest municipality in the Waipa District
and still growing rapidly.
Notable natives are members of The Datsuns
, Fields medal
winner Sir Vaughan Jones
, as well as the equestrian
double Olympic gold medal winner Mark Todd
. World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist cyclist Sarah Ulmer
also lives and trains in Cambridge. Joelle King
, winner of the Australian Open squash
title in 2009, and two medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, hails from the town. Former New Zealand and Australasian champion archer Brooke La Pine also called Cambridge home for 23 years.
and showjumping.
Internationally known Thoroughbred studs in the area include:
, recognised as one of the premium rowing lakes in the world, is close by, producing several world rowing champions, notably Rob Waddell
and the Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina
and Caroline
, Mahé Drysdale
and James Dallinger
. The 2010 World Rowing Championships
were held at Lake Karapiro.
.
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, on the banks of the Waikato River
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850's missionaries and farmers from Britain settled in the area and guided Maori in modern farming practices -helping them set up 2 flour mills in Cambridge and importing grinding wheels from England. Wheat was one of the main crops grown in those days. During the 1850s it was a prosperous time with migrants arriving in Auckland and high prices.However merchants in Auckland began purchasing cheaper grain from Australia and the market went into decline. Maori had established their own bank in a whare in Cambridge but the money was stolen by the chiefs in charge. There was a riot when the depositers burnt the bank down days. Kingitanga rebels threatened the European who were all forced to leave in 1863.
With a population of 15,192 as of the 2006 census, it is the biggest municipality in the Waipa District
Waipa District
Waipa District Council in the Waikato region of New Zealand is a municipality that covers Te Awamutu, Cambridge and several small towns. The seat of the council is at Te Awamutu. The district's population at the was , of whom approximately 35% lived in each of the main two towns. The district has...
and still growing rapidly.
Notable natives are members of The Datsuns
The Datsuns
The Datsuns are a hard rock band from Cambridge, New Zealand, formed in 2000. To date they have released four albums and several singles, most of which have charted in New Zealand and/or the United Kingdom...
, Fields medal
Fields Medal
The Fields Medal, officially known as International Medal for Outstanding Discoveries in Mathematics, is a prize awarded to two, three, or four mathematicians not over 40 years of age at each International Congress of the International Mathematical Union , a meeting that takes place every four...
winner Sir Vaughan Jones
Vaughan Jones
Sir Vaughan Frederick Randal Jones, KNZM, FRS, FRSNZ is a New Zealand mathematician, known for his work on von Neumann algebras, knot polynomials and conformal field theory. He was awarded a Fields Medal in 1990, and famously wore a New Zealand rugby jersey when he accepted the prize...
, as well as the equestrian
Equestrian at the Summer Olympics
Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It disappeared until 1912, but has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since. The current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping...
double Olympic gold medal winner Mark Todd
Mark Todd (equestrian)
Mark James Todd, CBE is a New Zealand horseman noted for his accomplishments in the discipline of eventing, voted Rider of the 20th Century by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, Mark James Todd, CBE (born 1 March 1956) is a New Zealand horseman noted for his accomplishments in the...
. World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist cyclist Sarah Ulmer
Sarah Ulmer
Sarah Elizabeth Ulmer, ONZM is the first New Zealander to win an Olympic cycling gold. She won a gold medal and set world records at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens,....
also lives and trains in Cambridge. Joelle King
Joelle King
Joelle King, is a professional squash player who represents New Zealand. She reached a career-high world ranking of World No...
, winner of the Australian Open squash
Australian Open (squash)
The Australian Squash Open is an annual squash tournament that takes place at the National Convention Centre in Canberra in August. The tournament has been held since 1980 and will be held in Canberra from 2010 to 2014.-Men's:-Women's:-External links:*...
title in 2009, and two medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, hails from the town. Former New Zealand and Australasian champion archer Brooke La Pine also called Cambridge home for 23 years.
Throughbred horse studs
The town is now best known for its Thoroughbred horse studs and stables, which have produced many champion horses in the sports of racingHorse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and showjumping.
Internationally known Thoroughbred studs in the area include:
- Cambridge StudCambridge StudCambridge Stud is an internationally known Thoroughbred stud farm established in 1976 at Cambridge, New Zealand. It has a number of top quality stallions including Zabeel and the great broodmare Eight Carat by Pieces of Eight from Klairessa. She was New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 1995, 1996...
- Chequers Stud
- Blue Gum Lodge
- Trelawney StudTrelawney StudTrelawney Stud is New Zealand’s oldest commercial Thoroughbred horse stud farm. It was established in 1930 by Seton Otway near Cambridge, New Zealand. It has a number of top quality stallions including Carnegie ....
- Windsor Park StudWindsor Park StudWindsor Park Stud is a New Zealand Thoroughbred stud farm that was established in 1998 near Cambridge, in the Waikato region of the North Island. It has a number of top quality stallions including New Zealand six times champion sire Volksraad.-External links:...
Rowing
Lake KarapiroLake Karapiro
Lake Karapiro is an artificial reservoir lake on the Waikato River in the North Island of New Zealand. The lake, near Cambridge and some south-east of the city of Hamilton, was created in 1947 to store water for the Karapiro Power Station, the last of the eight hydroelectric power stations on the...
, recognised as one of the premium rowing lakes in the world, is close by, producing several world rowing champions, notably Rob Waddell
Rob Waddell
Robert "Rob" Norman Waddell, ONZM, is a New Zealand rower, yachtsman and rugby union player. Waddell has one of the highest VO2 max intake levels of any athlete ever tested. He holds the fastest 2000 metre indoor rowing machine time in the world, clocking a time of 5 mins 36.6 secs...
and the Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina
Georgina Evers-Swindell
Georgina Earl, formerly known as Georgina Evers-Swindell is a former New Zealand rower. She competed in the double sculls with her identical twin sister Caroline Meyer, and is a double Olympic gold medalist, having won at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008...
and Caroline
Caroline Evers-Swindell
Caroline Meyer formerly known as Caroline Evers-Swindell is a former New Zealand rower. She is 179 cm tall and 80kg. She competed in the double sculls with her identical twin sister Georgina Earl...
, Mahé Drysdale
Mahe Drysdale
Alexander Mahé Owens Drysdale, MNZM ) is a New Zealand rower and five-time World Champion single sculler. The name Mahé came from the largest island in the Seychelles....
and James Dallinger
James Dallinger
James William Dallinger, is a New Zealand rower.He was a member of the World Champion under-23 coxed four in 2006, and the world champion senior coxless four in 2007...
. The 2010 World Rowing Championships
2010 World Rowing Championships
The 39th 2010 World Rowing Championships were held at Lake Karapiro, near Cambridge, New Zealand between October 29 – November 7. The annual week-long rowing regatta was organised by FISA . Usually held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer, they were held later in the year in the southern...
were held at Lake Karapiro.
Association football
Cambridge is home to Cambridge FC who compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2
The Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2 is a New Zealand Association football semi-professional status league competition that is run by the Auckland Football Federation and includes soccer clubs located in the northern part of the North Island, New Zealand. It is open to clubs from the Northland,...
.