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Waikato

Waikato

Waikato is the name of a region in the North Island of New Zealand. Exact boundaries of the region depend largely on the use of the name, but in all cases it refers to an area around the city of Hamilton and extending along the banks of the Waikato River.

Different definitions

The Waikato local government region

The Waikato Region is a local government region on the western side of the North Island. It stretches from Lake Taupo and northern King Country in the south, up to the Coromandel Peninsula and the boundary with the Auckland Region. The region has an area of 25,000 km ², and an estimated 2004 population of 381,900.

The Waikato region (general use of term)

The term Waikato is likely to generally include only a part of the local government region, excluding areas around the Coromandel Peninsula and Thames Valley in the north and around and to the north of Lake Taupo in the southeast.

The Waikato District

Waikato also refers to the district administered by the Waikato District Council. This covers the towns of Ngaruawahia, Huntly and Raglan.

The Waikato River

The Waikato refers to the long river from which the region gets its name. Waikato is a Maori word meaning flowing water.

Geography

Maori In the west, the region is bounded by the Tasman Sea. The coastal region is largely rough hill country, known locally as the Hakarimata Range, though it is more gently undulating in the north, closer to the mouth of the Waikato River. The coast is punctured by three large natural harbours: Raglan Harbour, Aotea Harbour, and Kawhia Harbour. The area around Raglan is noted for its volcanic black sand beaches, and also for its fine surfing conditions. To the east of the coastal hills lies the broad floodplain of the Waikato River. The region has a wet temperate climate, and the land is largely rich farmland, although it also contains undrained peat swamp. It is in the broad Waikato Plains that most of the region's population resides, and the land is intensively farmed with both livestock (mainly dairy cattle) and crops (such as maize). The area around Cambridge has many thoroughbred stables. The north of the region around Te Kauwhata produces some of New Zealand's best wines. Several shallow lakes lie in this area, the largest of which is Lake Waikare. To the east, the land rises towards the forested slopes of the Kaimai and Mamaku Ranges. The upper reaches of the Waikato River are used for hydroelectricity, and several large artificial lakes are found in the region's southeast.

History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the western North Island contained some of the most densely populated parts of New Zealand, inhabited by iwi such as Ngati Toa and Tainui. The Waikato has a prominent history, particularly regarding relationships between Maori and European in early colonial New Zealand. During the Land Wars of the 1860s, the Waikato was the scene of major bloodshed in what is referred to as the Invasion of the Waikato. Largely in retaliation for Waikato Maori helping Taranaki Maori protect their land in the earlier Taranaki War, the colonial government — with the help of troops brought from Britain — pushed south from the main settlement of Auckland, fighting several defensive lines organised by the combined iwi of the King Movement. During 1863 and 1864 fighting occurred at Meremere, Ngaruawahia, Rangiaowhia (southwest of Cambridge) and at Orakau (near Te Awamutu). Eventually the King Movement's forces pulled back to positions in the area to the south of the Waikato, still known as the King Country. The Orakau siege was immortalised in one of New Zealand's first motion pictures as Rewi's Last Stand in 1925. The National Marae, Turangawaewae, is at Ngaruawahia. It is the seat of the Maori Queen, Te Atairangi Kaahu.

People

Cities and towns

The city of Hamilton is the major centre, with a population in 2005 of 115,000 to 120,000. It is home to Waikato University. The towns of Matamata, Tokoroa, Te Awamutu and Cambridge each have between 10,000 and 15,000+ people in the actual townships and surrounding rural areas. The region also includes the smaller towns of Huntly, Morrinsville, Ngaruawahia, Otorohanga, Putaruru, Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Te Kuiti, and Tirau. Other towns within the Waikato government region, but outside the normally accepted Waikato area, include Waiuku, south of Auckland; Paeroa, Te Aroha, Thames, Whangamata, and Whitianga around the Thames Valley and Coromandel Peninsula; and the city of Taupo (population 21,000) and town of Turangi in the southeast. The people of the Waikato occasionally use the nickname Mooloo to apply to themselves or to their province, particularly in relation to sporting endeavours. The word was likely first applied to the Waikato provincial rugby team. Its origin is related to the mascot of a pantomime-like milking cow used in parades, public events and sports matches - partucularly rugby, reflecting the importance of the diary industry to the region.

Famous sons and daughters

- Jim Bolger — former Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Helen Clark — current Prime Minister of New Zealand
- Don Clarke — Rugby international
- The Datsuns — rock band
- Tim and Neil Finn — songwriters and musicians (Split Enz, Crowded House)
- Rangimarie Hetet — of Oparure Marae. Died 103 yrs regarded as living treasure of Maori handcrafts, with honorary degrees.
- Dame Malvina Major — acclaimed international singer
- Bruce McLaren — motor racing driver and team founder
- Colin Meads — rugby international
- Richard O'Brien— writer of the international cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Eva Rickard — of Tainui descent; leader and defender of Maori land rights
- Hilda Ross — humanitarian, first woman elected to the Hamilton Borough Council, MP
- Frank Sargeson — celebrated NZ writer.
- Dame Catherine Tizard(nee Mclean) — Former Mayor of Auckland and first womanGovernor-General of New Zealand
- Mark Todd — Olympic equestrian
- Te Atairangi Kaahu — current Maori Queen
- Te Puea Herangi — Maori princess and leader
- Te Rauparaha — Maori chieftain and warrior

External links

- [http://www.ew.govt.nz/ Environment Waikato / Waikato Regional Council]
- [http://www.waikatoNZ.com/ Tourism Waikato]
- Category:Regions of New Zealand

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. Several important cities are in the North Island, notably New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, and Wellington, the capital, located at the southern extremity of the island. Around 76% of New Zealand's population lives in the North Island. Māori mythology says that the North and South Islands of New Zealand came from the time of Maui, who was a demigod. The story goes that he and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the South Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it from the sea. While he was not looking his brothers fought over the fish and chopped it up. This great fish became the North Island and thus the Māori name for the North Island is Te Ika a Maui (The Fish of Maui). The mountains and valleys are said to have been formed as a result of Maui's brothers' hacking at the fish. Historical Note: On some 19th Century maps, the North Island also went by the name New Munster. The island is the world's 14th-largest island. A grammatical note: New Zealanders refer to the main islands with a definite article, as "the North Island" and "the South Island", like "the North Sea" and "the Western World", but unlike "Rangitoto Island" or "West Point". Maps, headings or tables and adjectival expressions use "North Island", whereas "the North Island" is used after a preposition or before or after a verb, e.g. "my mother lives in the North Island", "the North Island is smaller than the South Island", or "I'm visiting the North Island".

Cities and towns in the North Island

(Smaller urban areas are found on the List of towns in New Zealand)
- Auckland
- Cambridge
- Coromandel
- Foxton
- Gisborne
- Hamilton
- Hastings
- Huntly
- Kerikeri
- Matamata
- Napier
- New Plymouth
- Pahiatua
- Palmerston North
- Raglan
- Rotorua
- Stratford
- Taupo
- Tauranga
- Wellington

Geographic features

- Cape Reinga
- Cook Strait
- Lake Taupo
- Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu
- Waikato River
- Waipoua Kauri Forest
- Waitomo Caves --------------------- North Island (Chinese: 北島 Běi dǎo) is another name for Zhifu Island. Category:Geography of New Zealand Category:Islands of New Zealand ko:북섬 ja:北島 (ニュージーランド)

Hamilton, New Zealand

Hamilton

Urban Area	Population	185,000
Urban Area	Extent	north to Taupiri; south to Kihikihi; southeast to Cambridge; and extensive adjacent countryside
Territorial Authority	Name	Hamilton City
	Population	131,400
	Extent	Te Rapa to Glenview; Temple View to Silverdale
	See also	Matamata-Piako District South Waikato District Waikato District Waipa District Waitomo District
Regional Council	Name	Waikato
Population estimate is as at 30 June 2005 Source: [http://www.stats.govt.nz Statistics New Zealand]

Hamilton is New Zealand's 4th-largest metropolitan area. It is situated in the Waikato region of the North Island, approximately 129km to the south of Auckland. The city, lying at a major road and rail nexus, is situated in the centre of the Waikato Basin on both the east and west banks of the Waikato River.

History

The area now covered by the city was originally the site of a handful of Maori villages, including Kirikiriroa, from which the city takes its Maori name. By the time English settlers arrived, most of these villages, which sat beside the Waikato River, were abandoned. The new English settlement was renamed Hamilton after Captain Fane Charles Hamilton, the popular commander of HMS Esk, who was killed in the battle of Gate Pa, Tauranga. The city is located near the southernmost navigable reach of the Waikato River, amidst New Zealand's richest and most fertile agricultural land. Initially an agricultural service centre, it now has a growing and diverse economy.

Geography and Climate

Climate

Hamilton has a temperate although sometimes damp climate with about 1184mm of rainfall annually. Daily maximum temperatures range from about 22 to 26 degrees celsius in January/February to 10 to 15 in July/August. Summer occasionally see temperatures of more than 30 degrees, while on clear winter mornings temperatures may drop to as low as -4 degrees celsius. Although there are rumours of a snowfall in Hamilton in the 1960s, and the nearby Mount Pirongia sees a dusting of snow once every few years, snow does not fall in Hamilton.

Geography

With the exceptions of low hills around the University, Hamilton Lake and to the west of the city, as well as an extensive network of gullies, the terrain of the city is relatively flat.

Hamilton Today

Waikato River Because of its rapid growth, some consider its more recent suburbs lacking in character; however the centre of the city is vibrant and lively, with the Waikato river bisecting the city, and has the second-largest collection of cafés in the country—second only to Ponsonby Road in Auckland. As of 2004, the city is a vibrant place enjoying the benefits of rapid growth and not yet suffering from the negative consequences, though traffic congestion is increasing at a faster rate than population growth.

Demographics

Hamilton is a rapidly growing city of over 130,000 people with around 1.5 million people - 40% of New Zealand's total population - living within a 250-km radius. The city is growing to be a very diverse society. Many immigrants also settle in this city, mostly from the Pacific Islands. Hamilton is still largely European mostly of British origins, but there also Polish, Italian, and Yugoslav origins as well. According to New Zealand statistics office, Hamilton is, Pakeha/European: 79.2%, Maori: 15%, and the remaining population consists of Asians, and Pacific Islanders.

Government and politics

The [http://www.hamilton.co.nz/ Hamilton City Council] consists of 13 councillors and a mayor (currently Michael Redman), and last faced election in 2004. Council elections are held every three years. The council has six standing committees: City Development, Community and Leisure, Statutory Management, Transport, Finance and Audit, and Stadiums Management. There are also five sub-committees.

Economy

Maori Education and research are important to the city, through the University of Waikato and through the agricultural research centre at Ruakura, which have been responsible for much of New Zealand's innovation in agriculture. Hamilton annually hosts the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, the southern hemisphere's largest agricultural trade exhibition. Mystery Creek is the country's largest event centre and hosts other events of national importance, such as the National Car Show and the National Boat Show. Manufacturing and retail are also important to the local economy, as is the provision of health services through the Waikato Base Hospital. The city is home to New Zealand's largest aircraft-manufacturing operation, (see Pacific Aerospace), as well as its largest concentration of trailer-boat manufacturers.

Education

Hamilton is home to more than 25,000 tertiary students, mostly enrolled in one of the city's two tertiary institutes, the University of Waikato and Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology). Hamilton also boasts exceptional secondary schooling for its size. Two of New Zealands top boys' schools - Hamilton Boys' High School and St Paul's Collegiate School are located in the city.

Culture

Museums and theatre

The city is host to a large number of small galleries as well as the Waikato Museum of Art and Culture. The latter includes Te Winika, one of the best preserved waka (Māori war canoe) dating from the pre-colonisation era.

Major Annual Events

Aside from the National Agricultural Fieldays, other major events that are held in Hamilton annually include the Balloons over Waikato festival which sees dozens of hot air balloonists take to the sky over a week in early autumn.

Sport

St Paul's Collegiate School The local rugby union teams are Waikato (NPC) and the Chiefs (Super 12). The local colours are yellow, red and black hoops, and the provincial mascot is Mooloo, an anthropomorphic cow.

City facilities and attractions

Hamilton Gardens is the region's most popular tourist attraction and hosts the Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival each year. Other local attractions include Hamilton Zoo, the Waikato Museum of Art and Culture, the Art Post art gallery, and Sky Riverside casino. Just 20 minutes' drive away is Ngaruawahia, the location of Turangawaewae Marae and the home of the Maori Queen.

Transportation

Air

Hamilton Airport, undergoing a major upgrade, serves as both a domestic and international airport. There are direct flights to both Wellington and Christchurch and regular flights to other destinations throughout the North Island. International flights are largely restricted to trans-Tasman and Polynesian destinations.

Road

Private cars are the transport medium of choice in this flat, spread out city. The main geographical barrier in the city is the Waikato River. The six bridges that cross the river are often the focus of morning and evening traffic delays. While buses have been gaining in popularity in recent years, the relative lack of congestion compared to other cities, ample availability of parking and inconvenient bus schedules have been holding up progress. New Zealand's main roading artery, State Highway One runs through Hamilton's western suburbs and also connects to State Highway 3 within the city boundaries.

Rail

Rail passengers are served by Hamilton Station, located in Frankton. Passenger rail services are virtually non-existent except for a single long distance train that pulls into Hamilton Station once a day.

Notable Residents

- Craig Baird - Racing car driver, born in Hamilton.
- Richard & Christopher Chandler — Monaco based multi-billionaires, lived and schooled in Hamilton.
- Helen Clark — The current Prime Minister of New Zealand, born in Hamilton.
- Guy Doleman — Actor who played the villain 'Count Lippe' in the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball, born in Hamilton.
- Howden Ganley - Formula One motor racing driver, born in Hamilton.
- Gillian Karawe Whitehead — One of New Zealand's most highly regarded composers, born in Hamilton.
- David Mackay — President and Chief Operating Office of Kellogg Company worldwide, born in Hamilton.
- Elsie Locke — Children's writer, historian, editor and activist, born in Hamilton.
- Richard O'Brien — Creator of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, lived in Hamilton.
- Frank Sargeson — Reknowned New Zealand author, born in Hamilton.
- Daniel Vettori - New Zealand cricketer, resides in Hamilton.
- Warwick Wright — Field hockey player, who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics, born in Hamilton.

External links

- [http://www.hcc.govt.nz/ Hamilton City Council]
- [http://www.waikatotimes.co.nz Waikato Times - Local Newspaper]
- [http://www.waikato.ac.nz/ University of Waikato]
- [http://www.hamiltoncity.co.nz/ Hamilton City Information Site]
- [http://www.telstraclear.co.nz/weather/yourtown.cfm?hamilton/ Hamilton Weather]
- [http://www.hamiltoninfo.co.nz/ Independent Hamilton Information Site]
- [http://www.htown.co.nz/ Hamilton Music Online] Category:Territorial Authorities of New Zealand Category:Waikato category: Cities and towns in New Zealand ja:ハミルトン、ニュージーランド

Waikato River

The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. Located in the northwestern 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 Huka Falls, then flows northwest, forming the Waikato Plains. Finally, it empties into the Tasman Sea south of Auckland at Port Waikato. The river gives its name to the Waikato region which surrounds the Waikato Plains. The rivers main tributary is the Waipa River, which has its confluence with the Waikato at Ngaruawahia. The Waikato River has spiritual meaning for the local Tainui Maori tribe who regard it as a source of their mana or pride. The New Zealand national marae of Turangawaewae is located close to its banks at Ngaruawahia. The name Waikato comes from Maori and translates as flowing water.

Uses of the river

Maori The river has long been a critical communications and transport link for the communities along its banks. The cities of Taupo and Hamilton are located on or close to its banks, as are the towns of Mangakino, Cambridge, Ngaruawahia, and Huntly.

Electricity Generation

The river has a series of eight hydroelectric power stations that generate electricity for the national grid. Between 1929 and 1971, eight dams and nine powerhouses were built to meet growing demand for electricity. The power scheme begins at Lake Taupo which has control gates to regulate the flow of water into the river. Once released through the gates it takes nearly 18 hours for the water to flow down the river to the Tasman Sea. On its journey downstream it passes through power stations located at Aratiatia, Ohakuri, Atiamuri, Whakamaru, Maraetai,Waipapa, Arapuni and Karapiro. Approximately 4000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity is generated annually by the scheme, which is around 13 percent of New Zealand's total electrical generating capacity. The river also provides cooling water for the coal/gas fired thermal power station at Huntly

Environmental Issues

Two major problems currently face the river. The first is pollution due to water runoff from intensive land used in its catchment area. Dairy farming is one of the causes of this pollution. The second is the controversial pumping of water north to Auckland which is purified and used for domestic water supply.

External links

- [http://www.virtualoceania.net/newzealand/photos/rivers/waikato/ Waikato River photos] Category:Central North Island, New Zealand Category:Rivers of New Zealand Category:Waikato

Local government

Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state. The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or (where appropriate) federal government. In modern nations, local governments usually have less powers than national governments do. They usually have some power to raise taxes, though these may be limited by central legislation. In some countries local government is partly or wholly funded by subventions from central government taxation. The question of Municipal Autonomy - which powers the local government has, or should have, and why - is a key question of public administration and governance. The institutions of local government vary greatly between countries, and even where similar arrangements exist, the terminology often varies. Common names for local government entities include state, province, region, department, county, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipality, shire and village. However all these names are often used informally in countries where they do not describe a legal local government entity. Main articles on each country will usually contain some information about local government, or links to an article with fuller information. The rest of this article gives information or links for countries where a relatively full description is available.

Australia

As a federal country, Australia has a number of States and Territories with wide ranging powers, and a lower tier of Local Governments. These arrangements are described in the articles Australian States and Territories and Local Government in Australia

India

France

According to its constitution, France has 3 levels of local government : 22 Régions and 4 Régions d'outre-mer (Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana). 96 départements and 4 départements d'outre-mer (Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana). There are 36 679 municipalities(in French: Communes). However, intercommunalities are now a level of government between municipalities and departements. Corsica and Paris (both a commune and a département) are local government sui generis.

Germany

As a federal country, Germany is divided into a number of states (Länder in German), which used to have wide powers, but whose main remaining power today (2004) is their ability to veto federal laws through their Bundesrat representation. The system of local government is described in the article on States of Germany.

Japan

Since the Meiji restoration, Japan has had a simple and clear local government system. First, Japan is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture comprises cities, villages and towns. In Hokkaido, Nagasaki and Okinawa, there are branches of the prefectural government sometimes referred to as "Subprefectures".

New Zealand

New Zealand has two tiers of authorities. The top tier comprises the regional councils. The second tier is the territorial authorities consisting of city councils, district councils and one island council. Five territorial authorities are unitary authorities, that is they also perform the functions of a regional council.

Philippines

For a description of the arrangements in force, see the section on Regions and Provinces in the article on the Philippines. [Institute of Development Management and Governance] [http://www.geocities.com/idmguplb]

United Kingdom

Main article: Local government in the United Kingdom The system of local government is different in the four countries of the United Kingdom.

England

The most complex system is in England, the result of numerous attempts at reform and reorganisation over the centuries. Above the level considered here is the European Union, the United Kingdom and whatever government offices may exist for England as a whole. England currently has no elected officials responsible solely for the entire country. The top level of local government within England is now the region. There are nine regions including Greater London, which in some ways is a unique case. Each region has a government office and assorted other institutions. Regions appear to have been introduced in their present form around 1994 and the policy of the current administration is to increase their power, including the introduction of elected assemblies where desired. The layers of government below the regions are mixed. Traditional counties still exist, although in the 1990s some of the districts within the counties became separate unitary authorities and a few counties have been disbanded completely. There are also metropolitan districts in some areas which are similar to unitary authorities. In Greater London there are London boroughs which are a similar concept. Counties are further divided into districts (also known as boroughs in some areas). Districts are divided into wards for electoral purposes. Districts may also contain parishes and town council areas with a small administration of their own. Other area classifications are also in use, such as health service and Lord-Lieutenant areas. See also: Ceremonial counties of England, Districts of England, Administrative counties of England, Subdivisions of England, UK topics

Wales

Wales has a uniform system of unitary authorities, referred to as counties or county boroughs. There are also communities, equivalent to parishes.

Scotland

Local government in Scotland is arranged on the lines of unitary authorities, with the nation divided into 32 council areas.

United States

Local government of the United States refers to the governments at the city, town, village, or civil township level in the United States of America. In the more general sense, local government also refers to state government, regional government, and county government.

Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. It has a perimeter of approximately 193 kilometres, a deepest point of 186 metres and a surface area of 616 square kilometres. It is the largest lake by surface area in the country. It is drained by the Waikato River. It is noted for stocks of short-finned eel and trout, the former a traditional delicacy and the latter a tourist attraction.

Population

The town of Taupo is situated on the north-eastern shore of the lake, and Turangi is at the lake's southern extremity. State Highway 1 winds along the eastern shore of the lake, and several small townships are located along it. Fewer people live on the northern or western shores, although there are several small settlements close to Taupo, and to the west of Turangi (notably at Tokaanu).

Lake formation

The lake lies in a caldera created following a huge volcanic eruption (see supervolcanos) approximately 26,500 years ago. According to geological records, the volcano has erupted 28 times in the last 27,000 years. The first eruption, known as the Oruanui eruption, ejected an estimated 800 cubic kilometres of material and caused several hundred square kilometres of surrounding land to collapse and form the caldera. volcanoThe most recent eruption, which occurred in 181AD, is believed to have ejected 100 cubic kilometres of material, of which 30 cubic kilometres was ejected in the space of a few minutes. It is believed that the eruption column was 50 kilometres high, twice as high as the eruption column from Mount St. Helens in 1980. This makes it one of the most violent eruptions in the last 5000 years (along with Mount Tambora and Santorini). It was sufficiently large, due to the ash expulsion, to turn the sky red over Rome and China. This eruption further expanded the lake. The volcano is considered to be dormant rather than extinct. It lies in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

Trivia

Lake Taupo is the same physical size as the island of Singapore. However, Singapore has as many people living in it as all of New Zealand.

History

Little is known about early Maori settlement near Taupo, although Ngati Tuwharetoa have been the main iwi of the area for several hundred years. Major pa were situated at the southern end of the lake to the west of the modern town of Turangi. Taupo town was founded in 1869 as a garrison town during the New Zealand Wars, but remained small due to the poor volcanic soils of the region. It was not until the 1950s that the region started to develop, with forestry and the construction of the Wairakei geothermal power station. Wairakei Tourism is now a major business for the area, and in the 1970s the residents of Taupo commissioned some rock carvings in various places on the lake to help boost the industry.

More information

- [http://www.laketauponz.com/ Destination Lake Taupo]
- [http://www.laketauponz.com/lakecam.cfm Lake Taupo Webcam]
- [http://www.laketauponz.com/ourenv/volcanic.asp Taupo Volcanic Zone]
- [http://www.backpacklaketaupo.com/blt/legends.asp History and legends of Lake Taupo]
- [http://www.ew.govt.nz/enviroinfo/water/lakes/laketaupo/waterquality/taupomap/index.htm Lake Taupo water quality] (includes bathymetric map)
- Flickr.com Photos tagged with [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/laketaupo/ laketaupo] & [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/taupo/ taupo]
- [http://wikitravel.org/en/ WikiTravel] - [http://wikitravel.org/en/Lake_Taupo Lake Taupo] Taupo, Lake Taupo, Lake Taupo, Lake Taupo, Lake Taupo, Lake

Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west from the Pacific Ocean to the east. The country's biggest city, Auckland, lies on the far shore of the Hauraki Gulf, 55 kilometres to the west. The peninsula is just visible from the city in fine weather.

Geography

Auckland The peninsula is steep and hilly, and is largely covered in subtropical rain forest. The Coromandel Range forms a spine for the peninsula rising to nearly 900 metres, and the large island of Great Barrier, which lies beyond the northern tip of the peninsula, can be thought of as an extension of the range. Great Barrier is separated from Cape Colville on the peninsula's northern coast by the Colville Channel. Numerous small islands and island groups lie offshore, such as the Motukawao Islands to the northwest, the Alderman Islands and Slipper Island to the southeast, and the Mercury Islands to the northeast.

People

Mercury Islands Owing to the nature of the land, much of the Coromandel is relatively isolated, especially considering its proximity to the cities of Auckland and Tauranga. Only five towns on the peninsula have populations of over 1000 (Coromandel, Whitianga, Thames, Tairua, and Whangamata) and of these only Thames has a population of over 5000. Several small towns dot the coast of the Firth of Thames in the southwest. Other small towns on the peninsula include Whiritoa, Hikuai, Pauanui and Colville. The peninsula is a popular place to live for those who have chosen alternative lifestyles, especially for those who have chosen not to live in Auckland. Increasingly millionare Aucklanders are moving in.

Industries and attractions

ColvilleThe area was formerly known largely for its mining and kauri industries, but is now a mecca for tourism, especially ecotourism. A forest park occupies much of the centre of the peninsula, and the coasts are dotted with fine beaches and stunning views. Evidence of the regions geothermal origins can be found in hot springs, notably at Hot Water Beach on the peninsula's east coast. The town of Whangamata is a popular holiday retreat, and Whitianga on Mercury Bay is renowned for its yachting. The peninsula's waters are also a popular destination for scuba divers.

Transportation

The towns are connected by State Highways 25 and 25A which form a circuit around the peninsula. At the base of the peninsula, the towns of Paeroa and Waihi are connected by means of a road through the Karangahake Gorge which separates the Coromandel Range from the Kaimai Ranges.

External links

[http://www.thames-info.co.nz/coromandel.htm Coromandel Information] [http://www.thames-info.co.nz Thames Information] [http://tour.thepeninsula.co.nz/index_thepeninsula.htm Coromandel Peninsula website] Category:Thames-Coromandel category: Peninsulas of New Zealand

2004

2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. It was designated the:
- International Year of Rice (by the United Nations)
- International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO)
- 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization)
- Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in 2004 for a description of the state of the world in this year. See also Wikipedia's almanac of events for this year.
Events

January

- January 1 - Pervez Musharraf gets a vote of confidence from an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the provincial assemblies, confirming him as President of Pakistan until 2007.
- January 3 - Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea off the coast of Egypt, killing all 148 aboard.
- January 4 - Mikhail Saakashvili wins the presidential elections in Georgia.
- January 4 -NASA's MER-A (Spirit) lands on Mars.
- January 8 - Queen Elizabeth II christens the RMS Queen Mary 2 cruise liner, currently the largest ocean liner in the world.
- January 13 - An Uzbekistan Airways plane crashes in Uzbekistan's capital of Tashkent, killing 37.
- January 22 - The European Union bans the import of poultry from Thailand, as bird flu spreads throughout Southeast Asia.
- January 24 - NASA's MER-B (Opportunity) lands on Mars.
- January 27 - The British government narrowly wins a House of Commons vote on the proposed introduction of tuition top-up fees in British universities.
- January 28 - The findings of the Hutton Inquiry are published in London. The British Government is found not to have falsified information in the "sexed up dossier". The report criticises the BBC's role in the death of David Kelly, a weapons expert on Iraq.
- January 28 - At a hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, it is revealed that the September 11, 2001, terrorists used Mace (a brand of tear gas) or pepper spray in overpowering the flight crew of American Airlines Flight 11.
February

- February 1 - A hajj stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, kills 251 pilgrims.
- February 3 - The CIA admits that there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction before the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
- February 6 - A suicide bomber kills 41 people on a metro car in Moscow.
- February 7 - Several leaders of Abnaa el-Balad arrested in Israel.
- February 10 - At least 50 people killed in a car bomb attack on a police recruitment centre south of Baghdad.
- February 10 - The French National Assembly votes to pass a law banning religious items and clothing from schools.
- February 12 - Same sex marriage in the United States: The City and County of San Francisco begins issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as an act of civil disobedience.
- February 13 - Scientists in South Korea announce the cloning of 30 human embryos.
- February 14 - Riots break out between New South Wales Police and Aboriginal residents of Redfern, a suburb of Sydney, Australia.
- February 18 - A train carrying a convoy of petrol, fertiliser, and sulfur derails and explodes in Iran, killing 320 people.
- February 20 - Conservatives win a majority in the Iranian parliament election.
- February 24 - 6.5 Richter scale earthquake in Northern Morocco hits in the Rif mountains near the city of Al Hoceima - over 400 dead. Ait Kamara is destroyed. 517 dead.
- February 25- Ash Wednesday. Also, the religious docudrama, The Passion of the Christ was released.
- February 26 - The United States lifts a ban on travel to Libya, ending travel restrictions to the nation that had lasted for 23 years.
- February 26 - Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski is killed in a plane crash near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- February 29 - 2004 Haiti rebellion: Jean-Bertrand Aristide resigns as president of Haiti. The chief justice of the Haitian Supreme Court, Boniface Alexandre, is sworn in as interim president.
- February 29 - The film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King directed by Peter Jackson wins 11 Academy Awards in every category it was nominated.
March

- March 2 - John Kerry effectively clinches the 2004 U.S. Democratic Party presidential nomination by winning nine out of 10 "Super Tuesday" primaries and caucuses.
- March 2 - NASA announces that the Mars rover MER-B (Opportunity), has confirmed that the area of Mars they landed in was once drenched in water.
- March 10 - Five British men released from detention at Camp Delta, Guantanamo Bay land at RAF Brize Norton. Four are immediately arrested for questioning.
- March 11 - Simultaneous explosions on rush hour trains in Madrid kill 190 people.
- March 12 - Following the terrorist attacks in Madrid on March 11, millions of protesters take to the streets of Spanish cities against terrorism.
- March 14 - Two suicide bombers kill eleven Israeli civilians in Ashdod, Israel.
- March 14 - The Spanish parliamentary elections of 2004 take place. The incumbent government led by José María Aznar is defeated by the Socialist José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
- March 14 - Presidential elections in Russia are held. Vladimir Putin easily wins a second term.
- March 15 - A trio of astronomers announce they have discovered a large trans-Neptunian object, the largest object found in the solar system since Pluto was discovered in 1930. Initially designated 2003 VB₁₂, it was named 90377 Sedna in late September.
- March 15 - The new Spanish government announces that it will withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops in Iraq.
- March 17 - Organized violence breaks out over two days in Kosovo. Nineteen people are killed, 139 Serbian homes are burned, schools and businesses are vandalized, and over 30 orthodox monasteries and churches are burned and destroyed.
- March 19 - The UN launches a corruption investigation due to the scandal over its Iraqi Oil for Food program.
- March 20 - President Chen Shui-bian wins the Taiwanese presidential election by 0.2% of the vote. The day before, he and Vice President Annette Lu were 'shot'. Lien Chan refuses to concede and demands a recount. A controversial 'peace referendum' opposed by the People's Republic of China is invalidated.
- March 21 - The 2004 Malaysian general election takes place. The incumbent Barisan Nasional party wins 198 out of 219 seats in the Malaysian Parliament.
- March 21 - Tony Saca is elected President of El Salvador (inauguration June 1).
- March 22 - Palestinians protest in the streets after an Israeli helicopter gunship fires a missile at the entourage of Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City, killing Yassin and 7 others.
- March 25 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Libyan leader Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi, in return for the dismantling of Libya's WMD programme in December 2003 - the first time a major western leader has visited the nation in several decades.
- March 28 - In France, the government of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin suffers a stunning and unprecedented defeat in regional elections. The first ever South Atlantic Hurricane makes landfall in South Brazil on the state of Santa Catarina, the Hurricane is dubbed Hurricane Catarina.
- March 29 - The Republic of Ireland bans smoking in all enclosed work places including: restaurants, pubs and bars.
- March 29 - Largest expansion of NATO to date, allowing Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia into the organization.
- March 31 - Four American private military contractors working for Blackwater USA, are killed and their bodies mutilated after being ambushed in Fallujah, Iraq.
April

- April 1 - Faroese Prime Minister's Office announces that from then on the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister's Office would use a new version of the Faroese Coat of Arms. The colours were inspired from the Merkið (flag) and yellow/gold was added. The new Coat of Arms depicts a Ram on a blue shield ready to defend. It can be used by the Government Ministries and by Faroese embassies, but some still use older versions of the Coat of Arms. Coat of Arms
- April 3 - A bomb explosion in a Madrid flat kills a Spanish policeman and five terrorists suspected of responsibility for the Madrid train bombings on March 11.
- April 4 - Serious fighting breaks out in Najaf, Sadr City, and Basra in Iraq as Shia insurgents supporting Muqtada al-Sadr rise against coalition forces.
- April 5 - Queen Elizabeth II begins a state visit to France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale.
- April 8 - Darfur conflict: The Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement is signed by the Sudanese government and two rebel groups.
- April 8 - Three Japanese citizens are taken hostage in Iraq.
- April 8 - Former Japanese famous economist, professor at Waseda University graduate school Kazuhide Uekusa was arrested on the escalator of JR Shinagawa Station because of trying to peep under high school girl's skirt with his hand mirror.
- April 16 - India defeats Pakistan in their first cricket tour in 14 years.
- April 17 - Israeli helicopters fire missiles at a convoy of vehicles in the Gaza Strip, killing the Gaza leader of Hamas, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi.
- April 20 - In Iraq, 12 mortars were fired on Abu Ghraib Prison by insurgents. Twenty two detainees were killed and 92 wounded. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-20-iraq_x.htm]
- April 21 - Mordechai Vanunu, who revealed an Israeli nuclear weapons programme in the 1980s, is released from prison in Israel after an 18 year term for treason.
- April 22 - Two trains carrying explosives and fuel collide in the North Korean town of Ryongchon, killing 161 people, injuring 1,300 and destroying thousands of homes.
- April 22 - The last coal mine in France closes, ending nearly 300 years of coal mining.
- April 25 - Referenda on a United Nations plan, which proposes to re-unite the island of Cyprus, take place in both the Greek and Turkish parts. Although the Turks vote in favour, the Greeks reject the proposal.
- April 28 - Abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq is revealed on the television show 60 Minutes II.
May

- May 1 - the largest expansion to date of the European Union takes place, extending the Union by 10 member-states: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus.
- May 6 - The final episode of Friends airs on NBC, drawing an estimated 52 million viewers in North America.
- May 8 - Would-be "Saudi Princess" "Antoinette Millard" surfaces in New York City and claims that muggers had stolen jewels worth of $262.000 from her (she later proves to be an impostor).
- May 9 - Chechen president Akhmad Kadyrov is killed by landmine placed under a VIP stage during a World War II memorial parade in Grozny.
- May 9 - Team of Canada won the World Ice Hockey Championship in Prague.
- May 10 - The 2004 Philippine presidential and legislative elections take place. Incumbent president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wins the presidency.
- May 11 - An explosion destroys a plastics factory in Glasgow, UK, killing nine people and injuring over a hundred.
- May 12 - An American civilian contractor in Iraq, Nick Berg, is shown being decapitated by a group allegedly linked to al-Qaida on a web-distributed video.
- May 13 - In India, the Congress Party wins a surprise victory in the elections to the Lok Sabha.
- May 14 - Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, marries Australian Mary Donaldson in Copenhagen.
- May 17 - Ezzedine Salim, holder of the rotating leadership of the Iraqi Governing Council, is killed in a bomb blast in Baghdad.
- May 17 - Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage in compliance with a ruling from the state's Supreme Judicial Court (Goodridge v. Department of Public Health).
- May 19 - Tony Blair is hit with a purple flour bomb in the chamber of the House of Commons during a session of Prime Minister's Questions.
- May 19 - Jeremy Sivits pleads guilty in a court-martial in connection with alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.
- May 23 - A section of the ceiling in Terminal 2E at Paris's Charles de Gaulle International Airport collapses, claiming at least six lives.
- May 23 - Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi visits North Korea to secure the release of the families of the nine abducted Japanese citizens returned earlier.
- May 26 - Terry Nichols is convicted by an Oklahoma state court on murder charges stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
- May 29 - Dedication of the National World War II Memorial takes place in Washington, DC.
- May 30 - Thousands of people in Hong Kong take to the streets to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
June

- June 1 - Twelve-year-old Satomi Mitarai, a Japanese schoolgirl attending Okubo Elementary School in Sasebo, Japan is murdered. Her killer, an 11-year-old classmate identified by Japanese authorities as "Girl A", becomes the basis for the Nevada-tan Internet meme.
- June 4 - Marvin Heemeyer destroys many local buildings with a home-made tank in Grancby, Colorado
- June 5 - Former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, dies at age 93.
- June 6 - The 60th anniversary of D-Day is remembered by world leaders.
- June 7 - Tampa Bay Lightning defeat Calgary Flames in 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.
- June 8 - The first transit of Venus since 1882 occurs; the next one will occur in 2012.
- June 8 - The G8 Summit takes place over the next 2 days on Sea Island, in Georgia, USA.
- June 8 - The pickled heart of Louis XVII of France is buried in the royal crypt at Saint-Denis.
- June 11 - Terry Nichols is spared the death penalty by an Oklahoma state court on murder charges stemming from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The decision came on the third anniversary of the execution of his co-defendant, Timothy James McVeigh, in Terre Haute, Indiana.
- June 11 - After the first presidential state funeral since 1973, President Ronald Wilson Reagan is laid to rest at Simi Valley, California, at the site of the Reagan Presidential Library.
- June 12 - A 1.3 kg chondrite type meteorite struck a house in Ellerslie, New Zealand causing serious damage but no injuries.Ellerslie, New Zealand
- June 15 - The Detroit Pistons upset the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2004 NBA Finals, four games to one.
- June 16 - The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (or "9/11 Commission") issues an initial report of its findings.
- June 21 - SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately-funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight.
- June 28 - Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains collided in a rural area outside of San Antonio, Texas. Forty cars were derailed, including one chlorine car, and three people died, another 50 people were hospitalized because of exposure to the gas.
- June 28 - The U.S.-led coalition occupying Iraq transfers sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government.
- June 28 - Canadian election: The Liberal Party, led by Paul Martin, is reduced to a minority government, after holding a majority since November 1993.
- June 30 - The preliminary hearings begin in Iraq in the trial of former president Saddam Hussein, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
July

- July 1 - The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft arrives at Saturn.
- July 4 - Groundbreaking of Freedom Tower at Ground Zero in New York City.
- July 4 - The Euro 2004 final between Portugal and Greece takes place in Lisbon, Portugal. Greece wins the match 1:0.
- July 22 - The Old Bridge of Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina is reconstructed and reopened after being destroyed by Bosnian Croat forces on November 9, 1993.
- July 25 - Over 100,000 opponents to Israel's unilateral disengagement plan of 2004 participate in a human chain from Gush Katif, to the Western Wall, Jerusalem (90 kilometers).
- July 25 - Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas wins an unprecedented 6th consecutive Tour de France cycling title.
August

- August 1 - Supermarket fire in Asunción, Paraguay, kills about 400 people and leaves over 100 missing.
- August 3 - Statue of Liberty reopens after security improvements.
- August 6 - A United Nations report that blames the government of Sudan for crimes against humanity in Darfur is released.
- August 12 - Singapore's prime minister Goh Chok Tong hands over his position to Lee Hsien Loong.
- August 13 - The 2004 Summer Olympics begin in Athens. They end on August 29.
- August 13 - Hurricane Charley kills 27 people in Florida after killing four in Cuba and one in Jamaica. Charley made landfall near Cayo Costa, FL as a Category 4 hurricane. Charley was the most intense hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
- August 16 - Severe flooding in the village of Boscastle in Cornwall.
- August 18 - In Dublin, Ireland the Dublin Port Tunnel excavation works were completed and the final tunnel boring machine breakthrough ceremony took place.
- August 21 - A series of blasts rocks a rally of an opposition party in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing at least 13 people.
- August 22 - Armed robbers steal Edvard Munch's The Scream, Madonna and other paintings from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.
- August 24 - Two airliners in Russia, carrying a total of 89 passengers, crash within minutes of each other after flying out of Domodedovo International Airport, leaving no survivors. Authorities suspect suicide attacks by rebels from Chechnya to be the cause of the crashes.
- August 29 - Around 200,000 protesters demonstrate in New York City against President George W. Bush and his government, ahead of the 2004 Republican National Convention.
- August 31 - Two suicide attacks on buses in Beer Sheva, Israel, kill at least 16 people and injure at least 60. Hamas claims responsibility for the attacks.
- August 31 - A woman commits a suicide attack near a subway station in northern Moscow, Russia, killing at least 10 people and injuring at least 50. Authorities hold Chechen rebels responsible.
September

- September 1 - Chechen rebels take between 1,000 and 1,500 people hostage, mostly children, in a school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. The hostage-takers demand the release of Chechen rebels imprisoned in neighbouring Ingushetia and the independence of Chechnya from Russia.
- September 2 - The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 1559 calling for the removal of all foreign troops from Lebanon. This measure is largely aimed at Syrian troops.
- September 3 - Russian forces end the siege at a school in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. At least 335 people (among which at least 32 of the approximately 40 hostage-takers) have been killed and at least 700 people have been injured.
- September 3 - Hurricane Frances makes landfall in Florida. After killing two people in the Bahamas, Hurricane Frances killed ten people in Florida, two in Georgia and one in South Carolina.
- September 7 - The Scottish Parliament meets in the new Scottish Parliament Building for the first time.
- September 7 - Hurricane Ivan passes directly over Grenada, killing 37 people. It passes over other Caribbean islands over the next two days, killing 5 people in Venezuela, 4 in the Dominican Republic, 1 in Tobago and 20 in Jamaica.
- September 8 - In the "Rathergate" affair, the first Internet posts appear pointing out that documents claimed by CBS News to be typewritten memos from the early 1970s appear instead to have been produced using modern word processing systems.
- September 9 - A bomb blast outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, kills eleven people and injures up to 100 people.
- September 13 - The Assault Weapons Ban expires.
- September 15 - Davíð Oddsson prime minister of Iceland steps down after serving as prime minister since April 30 1991. Oddson becomes foreign minister as his foreign minister Halldór Ásgrímsson becomes prime minister.
- September 15 - Security at the Palace of Westminster is compromised when the House of Commons is stormed by a small group of protestors during a debate about fox hunting.
- September 15 - "Girl A" is sentenced to be institutionalized due to the murder of classmate Satomi Mitarai.
- September 16 - Hurricane Ivan strikes Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 3 storm, killing 25 in Alabama and Florida.
- September 17 - 2004 Summer Paralympics commences in Athens, Greece.
- September 17 - Mexico and Japan finish the two year long negotiations and sign a Free Trade Agreement in Mexico City.
- September 23 - Mount St. Helens becomes active again.
- September 23 - Tropical Storm Ivan, having come around and reformed in the Gulf of Mexico, makes its final landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, to little effect. In total, the storm killed 92 people.
- September 25 - Hurricane Jeanne makes landfall near Hutchinson Island, FL. In all, Jeanne killed over 3,000, most in Haiti.
- September 29 - First Ansari X-Prize flight of SpaceShipOne.
October

- October 4 - Two car bombs kill at least 16 people and injure dozens more in Baghdad.
- October 5 - A fire breaks out on the Canadian submarine HMCS Chicoutimi leaving it stranded without power in the North Atlantic ocean, off the north coast of Ireland. One crewmember is killed.
- October 8 - Kenneth Bigley, the British hostage held by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, an Iraqi insurgent, is killed after a failed escape attempt.
- October 8 - Suicide bombers detonate two bombs at the Red Sea resort of Taba, Egypt, killing 34 people, mainly Israeli tourists and Egyptian workers.
- October 9 - Queen Elizabeth II opens the new Scottish Parliament Building in a ceremony in Edinburgh
- October 9 - Incumbent Prime Minister of Australia John Howard leads the Liberal-National coalition to victory over the Labor Party led by Mark Latham in federal elections.
- October 9 - Direct elections for president held for the first time in Afghanistan. Interim president Hamid Karzai is eventually declared the winner.
- October 10 - Abdullahi Yusuf is chosen as the new transitional president of Somalia.
- October 14 - Prince Norodom Sihamoni is chosen as the new king of Cambodia.
- October 16 - The New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox, 19-8 in Game 3 of Major League Baseball's American League Championship Series. The game, which pushed the Yankees to a 3 games to none series lead, sets a record for longest nine inning baseball game.
- October 17 - A referendum in Belarus approves the lifting of constitutional term limits for the presidency.
- October 18 - Three men attack Greek journalist Philippos Syrigos in Athens and seriously wound him
- October 19 - General Khin Nyunt is replaced by Lieutenant-General Soe Win as Prime Minister of Myanmar.
- October 20 - The Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, completing an unprecedented comeback from three games to none down.
- October 20 - Corporate Airlines Flight 5966 crashes in Missouri, killing 13 people, and injuring 2.
- October 20 - Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono becomes the first directly-elected President of Indonesia.
- October 21 - The Ministry of Defence approves the deployment of the Black Watch regiment of the British Army to Baghdad, Iraq after a request for assistance by the U.S. government.
- October 24 - The bodies of 49 Iraqi soldiers discovered after being ambushed by insurgents.
- October 24 - Brazil successfully launches its first rocket into space.
- October 25 - Reverand Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and Coretta Scott King receive Congressional Gold Medal.
- October 26 - October 26The Cassini probe passes within 1,200km of Titan
- October 27 - Details of the discovery of a new, recent, species of fossil hominid, Homo floresiensis, from the island of Flores, Indonesia are published.
- October 27 - The Boston Red Sox sweep the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series championship for the first time since 1918.
- October 29 - A videotape of Osama Bin Laden speaking airs on Arabic TV, in which he threatens terrorist attacks on the United States, and taunts the president, George W. Bush, over the September 11 Terrorist attacks.
- October 29 - European heads of state signed in Rome the Treaty and Final Act establishing the first European Constitution.
- October 30 - A 163 metre high radio mast in Peterborough, UK collapsed at a fire
- October 31 - Leftist candidate Tabaré Vázquez is elected President of Uruguay.
November

- November 1 - a 16 year old Palestinian, a muslim, blew himself up in an outdoor market in Tel Aviv, killing three Israelis.
- November 2 - U.S. presidential election: President George W. Bush defeats Senator John Kerry. Republicans make gains in the Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. It has a perimeter of approximately 193 kilometres, a deepest point of 186 metres and a surface area of 616 square kilometres. It is the largest lake by surface area in the country. It is drained by the Waikato River. It is noted for stocks of short-finned eel and trout, the former a traditional delicacy and the latter a tourist attraction.
Population
The town of Taupo is situated on the north-eastern shore of the lake, and Turangi is at the lake's southern extremity. State Highway 1 winds along the eastern shore of the lake, and several small townships are located along it. Fewer people live on the northern or western shores, although there are several small settlements close to Taupo, and to the west of Turangi (notably at Tokaanu).
Lake formation
The lake lies in a caldera created following a huge volcanic eruption (see supervolcanos) approximately 26,500 years ago. According to geological records, the volcano has erupted 28 times in the last 27,000 years. The first eruption, known as the Oruanui eruption, ejected an estimated 800 cubic kilometres of mat