Sunday News

By the numbers

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call it ‘Ti-ko-fa-ta’... it’s simpler to just stick with ‘TK’.’’

The town’s increasing population has stirred three significan­t rumours: a bigger supermarke­t, a train for quicker commutes to Auckland, and a clean lake.

Sedgwick says the first is easy to answer. The current Four Square will be bowled to build a New World by the end of the year. But she does not advise residents to hold their breath for the other two. Te Kauwhata $490,550 Huntly $310,550 Hamilton (Rototuna) $719,850 Pokeno $721,500 Manukau $543,500 Epsom $1,865,300 going to get a lovely lake any time soon,’’ Sedgwick admits.

Seventy-five-year-old Joe Lloyd lives on Swan Rd, up from the subdivisio­n on a 400-hectare farm, and has noticed rural living is relative when it comes to Aucklander­s.

‘‘These new houses are all so crammed together there’s barely room to swing a cat.’’

‘‘I think they should be making bigger sections because living in the countrysid­e is about having a bit of land for a vegie garden, and perhaps a milking goat or a pony.’’

Lloyd is also afraid Te Kauwhata’s generous community spirit might weaken as its population grows too big for everyone to know each other.

‘‘We’re a one horse town, so if you want to go down to the pub on a Friday night you have to drink with everybody.

‘‘In a bigger town that’s not going to happen – you’d have the doctor at a different venue to all the workmen with their boots, bush singlets, and tattoos.’’

 ??  ?? Te Kauwhata has a real rural feel to its main street – something some locals fear will disappear as more people move in from Auckland.
JASON DORDAY / FAIRFAX NZ
Te Kauwhata has a real rural feel to its main street – something some locals fear will disappear as more people move in from Auckland. JASON DORDAY / FAIRFAX NZ
 ??  ?? The Biddick family moved to Te Kauwhata to give their young sons a country childhood and save money.
The Biddick family moved to Te Kauwhata to give their young sons a country childhood and save money.

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