Patea

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Location of Patea.

Patea is the second-largest town in southern Taranaki, New Zealand. It is located on the western bank of the Patea River, 55 kilometres north-west of Wanganui on State Highway 3, and had a 2001 population of 1302. The town's name is pronounced approximately as "pah-tay-ah". The town was initially founded as a garrison settlement during the New Zealand land wars of the 1860s.

The town came to national attention in the second half of the 20th century for the closure of the main employer, a freezing works. Subsequently it gained more fame, in and beyond New Zealand, as the home of Māori singer Dalvanius Prime and the group Patea Māori Club, whose single, "Poi E", was one of the early indicators of a renewed impetus in Māori popular music.

Although losing its main employer was difficult, Patea has remained a strong rural town. Today Patea enjoys many services, including a well resourced Medical Centre, public swimming pool and trust-owned Rest Home. Patea LibraryPlus is open 5 days a week, offering Council services as well as full library facilities.

A few miles south of Patea is the small community of Whenuakura where New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell lived as a child. He learned to play golf at the Patea Golf Club which sits on the cliffs overlooking the Tasman Sea. He crowned his professional career by winning the US Open in June 2005, and three months later, the HSBC World Match Play Championship which carries the richest prize in golf, £1,000,000.

It is also the home of the SOUTH TARANAKI DISTRICT MUSEUM as Patea is the birthplace of South Taranaki for both Maori and European as they both entered the area through the Patea River.39°45′S 174°29′E