NZ Towns and Cities Trivia

1. Auckland is situated between two harbors: The Manukau, and The Waitemata. What is the geographical name for this configuration?

From Quiz My Home Town : Auckland New Zealand

Answer: isthmus

The two harbours provide for a beautiful setting, with large marine areas, plenty of opportunities for boating and fishing, several accessible islands, and many beaches.

From Quiz Windy Wellington

Answer: Russell and Auckland

Following the negotiation in 1840 of the Treaty of Waitangi between Maori and the British Crown, the first seat of government was established at Okiato (renamed Russell) in the Bay of Islands. Kororareka, at that time the largest European settlement in New Zealand (and sometimes known as the 'Hell Hole of the Pacific'), was also absorbed into Russell. In 1840 the capital was moved to Auckland, which later became one of New Zealand's most populous cities. In 1865, Wellington, close to the geographic centre of the country, became the permanent capital.

From Quiz More New Zealand Towns And Cities

Answer: Rakaia

Rakaia is located between Christchurch and Ashburton. When you drive over one of the longest bridges in the Southern Hemisphere (the Rakaia River), you drive past a giant fish monument.

From Quiz New Zealand Towns - Through the Alphabet

Answer: Ahipara

Ahipara (population: 1038 approx.) is at the Southern end of 'Ninety Mile Beach'. The beach is actually only 55 miles long but is one of the most well known beaches in New Zealand. Visitors can visit the beach and enjoy sand surfing down the dunes. 'Ahipara' means 'sacred fire' in the Maori language and the area has a proud history of gum digging and seafaring adventures. For more information on Ahipara, see 'www.ahipara.co.nz'.

From Quiz Suburbs Of Christchurch

Answer: New Brighton

New Brighton beach is a popular Christchurch landmark. It has a very modern library on the beach with a great cafe. New Brighton also has a mall and lots of restaurants. Plans are underway for high-rise apartments across the road from the beach.

From Quiz New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Christchurch

Christchurch is the second largest city in New Zealand.It is located at the foot of the Port Hills.

From Quiz A-Z New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Auckland

Auckland was established in 1840, and chosen by William Hobson, Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, as the capital of the new colony of New Zealand. He named it for his naval commander George Eden, Lord Auckland. It remained as the capital of NZ until 1865, when Wellington was proclaimed capital. Over one quarter of NZ's four million people live in Greater Auckland. It is sister city to Fukuoka, Shinagawa and Tomioka (Japan), Busan (Korea), Guangzhou (China), Brisbane (Australia) and Los Angeles (USA).

From Quiz Famous Small Towns in New Zealand

Answer: Kerikeri

The Mission House, built to house the Rev. John Butler in 1821-22, is New Zealand's oldest complete standing European house. The Stone Store was built in 1832-36. It was built to house mission supplies and wheat from a mission farm at Te Waimte. Wheat failed and it served as a kauri gum trading store during the years of the Northland gumdigging rush. From 1929 it was a general store until 1976 when it was purchased by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Keri orange juice; named for Kerikeri (though not produced in Kerikeri) can be found in every supermarket in New Zealand.

From Quiz My Home Town : Auckland New Zealand

Answer: Jean Batten

Jean Batten was an aviatrix who made many record breaking solo flights in the 1930s. Among these was the first ever solo flight from England to New Zealand in 1936. Lord Rutherford was a New Zealand born scientist from the early twentieth century who specialised in nuclear physics, and won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908. Katherine (Kathleen) Mansfield was a prolific short story writer who achieved an international reputation in the early part of the 1900s. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is a New Zealand soprano well known for operatic and classical singing.

From Quiz More New Zealand Towns And Cities

Answer: Christchurch

Christchurch is the second largest city in New Zealand. In the central city, there is a giant park which is called Hagley Park. It was designed by Christchurch's original town planners back in the 1800s.

From Quiz New Zealand Towns - Through the Alphabet

Answer: Bulls

In the town of Bulls (population: 1755 approx.), many of the offices and stores have names ending in 'bull'. Outside the police station there is a sign that says 'const-a-bull'. There is a local antique store called 'Afford-a-bulls Antique Emporium'. Outside the pharmacy is a sign saying 'Indispens-a-bull'. Bulls is located in the Rangitikei district and is near the Ohakea airforce base. The town was originally called Rangitikei but was changed to Bulls in recognition of the important role that Mr James Bull had in establishing the township. For more information on Bulls (including pictures of some of the signs), see 'www.unforgetabull.co.nz'.

From Quiz Suburbs Of Christchurch

Answer: Shirley

The Palms had updates in 2003 and a new movie theatre built.

From Quiz A-Z New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Blenheim

Blenheim was named after the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill in England. Balclutha and Bluff are in the Southland, but Bunnythorpe is in the North Island.

From Quiz Famous Small Towns in New Zealand

Answer: Waitangi

The founding document of New Zealand as a nation, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between February and May 1840 between the Crown, represented by Governor William Hobson, and around five hundred Maori chiefs, mainly from the North Island of New Zealand. On 6th Febuary 1840, the first of 46 chiefs, one Hone Heke, signed the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty was then carried around the country so that over 500 Maori tribeleaders could sign the document. On 21st May 1840, the treaty was complete and Hobson became the first governer of the whole of New Zealand. Also to note, prior to that event, in 1832 twenty-five northern chiefs and Europeans met at Waitangi to choose New Zealand's first flag.

From Quiz My Home Town : Auckland New Zealand

Answer: extinct volcanic cones

Auckland is located in the centre of a dormant volcanic field - resulting in numerous volcanic cones. Some of these have been lost to quarrying for scoria and rock - but many are visible today and can be easily visited and climbed. The age of the oldest volcano has been estimated at over 250,000 years, but the most recent eruption which created Rangitoto (an island in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour) happened just 600 years ago!

From Quiz Windy Wellington

Answer: 8.2

This figure is an estimate for what was the most powerful earthquake to have struck New Zealand in recorded history up to the early 21st century. One resident counted 250 aftershocks in the first 11 hours. Aftershocks continued for several months. Major alterations to landscape features included the raising of the Basin Lake by 1.8m, changing it from a lake into a swamp. This was subsequently drained and became the Basin Reserve, Wellington's principal cricket ground. A significant piece of land along the shoreline was also raised and later drained so that the former waterfront, Lambton Quay, is now between 100-200m from the harbour. The Hawke's Bay earthquake of 1931 measured 7.8 on the Richter Scale. The city of Napier, on the east coast of the North Island, was largely destroyed and was rebuilt, almost entirely in the Art Deco style. In 2010 an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck Christchurch in the South Island. (www.teara.govt.nz)

From Quiz That's Where I'm From - Gisborne, New Zealand!

Answer: An earthquake

On the 21 December 2007 at 9pm, Gisborne was shaken up by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake centered off the coast. Not uncommon for the area, the quake and its smaller aftershocks resulted in damage to many of the city's old buildings, some of which had to be condemned. It was a frightening experience for me and something that those involved in will never forget. Incorrect answers: After the earthquake many people feared a tsunami might have been triggered. Fortunately that did not happen but there was a small one in 1947 which destroyed the Tatapouri Hotel outbuildings. In March 1988, Gisborne and the east coast were struck by Cyclone Bola which caused devastating floods. I was only 3 but I remember helicopters carrying huge monsoon buckets. There have been stories of small tornadoes or water spouts around the east coast but none have been major.

From Quiz More New Zealand Towns And Cities

Answer: Geraldine

Geraldine is located between Ashburton and Timaru. One of the biggest jerseys in the world took two weeks to make. It hangs up on the wall of the creator's pure wool shop.

From Quiz New Zealand Towns - Through the Alphabet

Answer: Cromwell

Cromwell (population: 2667 approx.) is in the heart of 'stone fruit country' and there is a statue commemorating this outside the town. In the peak picking season, visitors can readily purchase nectarines, plums & peaches from roadside stalls. The new lake that was created through the flooding is Lake Dunstan. The location of the original town of Cromwell is now under Lake Dunstan. As a part of the flooding, several of the most historic buildings were moved to higher ground for future generations to enjoy. For more information on Cromwell, see 'www.cromwell.org.nz'.

From Quiz Suburbs Of Christchurch

Answer: Burwood

It is called Travis Wetland because it's on Travis Road. It has a nice scenic walking track which runs through the wetland.

From Quiz New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Auckland

Auckland has a total population of over one million people. It is located on the North Island. Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is the second largest city and is also located on the North Island.

From Quiz A-Z New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Christchurch

Christchurch was the host city of the Commonwealth Games in 1974 and the Eisenhower World Amateur Teams Golf Championship in 1990. Canterbury is the name of the province in which Christchurch is situated. Culverden is a small town in Canterbury, and Cromwell is in the province of Otago.

From Quiz Famous Small Towns in New Zealand

Answer: Karitane

Truby King believed that "scientifically formulated doctrines" on nutrition and infant care were the key to the future health of the nation. The Karitane Home for Babies first opened in Dunedin, taking babies and children under two years who were not treated under the general hospital system. The hospital's first patients were malnourished infants that had been previously residing at Truby Kings own cottage in Karitane. The Plunket philosophy became a part of New Zealand parenting culture. Dr King's books, 'The Expectant Mother' and 'Baby's First Months' were handed out to every applicant for a marriage licence!

From Quiz My Home Town : Auckland New Zealand

Answer: 1350

At least six Maori tribes (or Iwi) settled in the Auckland region about the time that many settlers from Polynesia in the Pacific emigrated to New Zealand. The area attracted these early migrants because of the fertile, volcanic enriched soil, abundant fresh water, and temperate climate. The Maori name for the region is Tamaki Makaurau - which means Tamaki of 100 Lovers.

From Quiz Windy Wellington

Answer: The only earthquake fatality in Wellington

Across the region, the total number of deaths caused by the earthquake was between five and nine. Austrian Baron von Alzdorf, the only casualty in Wellington itself, died when a brick chimney in his hotel collapsed. The official death toll of the Hawke's Bay earthquake in 1931 was 256, though the real figure may have been slightly higher.

From Quiz More New Zealand Towns And Cities

Answer: Tauranga

Tauranga is located on the banks of the Bay Of Plenty. It is one of the few cities which has a population over 100,000, other than the five main cities of Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton and Dunedin.

From Quiz New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Kaitaia

Kaitaia lies at the top of the North Island, close to Ninety-Mile Beach.

From Quiz A-Z New Zealand Towns and Cities

Answer: Dunedin

Settled by Scots in the 1830's, Dunedin is Otago's main centre.

From Quiz Famous Small Towns in New Zealand

Answer: Te Aroha

Te Aroha is located in Waikato in the Coromandel Peninsula region, near Matamata. Spraying about four metres into the air every forty minutes, the Mokena geyser is a one of a kind. The world's only HOT soda water geyser. The world's only cold soda water geyser can be found in Japan. Other highlights include the Domain which houses *The Te Aroha Mineral Pools and the world's only naturally flowing hot mineral Soda Spa Baths. 'A history of Health and Vitality since 1883'. *The Wyborn Leisure Pool complex which is heated. *The historic Cadman House Museum - New Zealand's original sanitorium. There one can see the Queen Ann Pipe Organ built in 1712 the oldest pipe organ in the Southern Hemisphere.

From Quiz My Home Town : Auckland New Zealand

Answer: The Earl of Auckland - the Viceroy of India in 1840

New Zealand's first Governor, William Hobson, chose the settlement between the harbours as the site of the country's first capital in 1840. Hobson subsequently named the settlement Auckland after his friend and supporter George Eden, then titled Earl of Auckland, from County Durham, England.

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