From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stratford
Country:	New Zealand
Population:	5,225 (Stratford town) 8,610 (territorial) (2005 estimate)
Urban Area
Extent:
Territorial Authority
Name:	Stratford District
Mayor:	Brian Jeffares
Extent:
Area:	2163km²
Website:	http://www.stratford.govt.nz
See also:	South Taranaki, New Plymouth
Regional Council
Name:	Taranaki Regional Council and part of Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Websites:	http://www.trc.govt.nz http://www.horizons.govt.nz

Stratford is the main town of the central Taranaki region, aptly named as the 'Stratford District'. Situated directly inland from Mount Taranaki, Stratford is a rural service centre with a 2001 population of 5225. The surrounding rural area has a 2001 population of 3661.

The Stratford District represents about one quarter of the Taranaki Region with a quarter of the District comprising the Egmont Ring Plain which is predominantly dairying and the balance being rolling to hill country supporting dry stock farming and bush (57,300 dairy; 42,000 beef cattle; 281,300 sheep).

The Patea River flows through the town, and its supposed similarity to the River Avon in England led to the town's name, which before its current name was Stratford-on-Patea. The William Shakespeare 'connection' is played upon by the naming of 67 streets after Shakespearian characters from 27 of his plays, and New Zealand's only glockenspiel clocktower plays the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet three times a day.

The town was formally classified as a town in June 1878, and on 31 August 1878 an auction of 455 sections saw the first sections sold. By 1881 the population was 97, comprising 56 males and 41 females, with 22 houses. By 1891 this had grown to a population of 342 and by 1896 1,256.

Stratford's view of Mount Taranaki (facing west). Fanthams Peak can be seen to the left of the main peak. Note the cow in the foreground; Stratford is a service town for the many dairy farms of Taranaki.

The local government administration is the Stratford District Council

There are two secondary schools in the area, Stratford High School, a co-educational state school with a roll of 550, and St Mary's Diocesan School, an integrated Anglican girls school with a roll of 200 day and boarding students. There are three primary schools: Avon School, St Josephs School and Stratford Primary School. Stratford is surrounded by several smaller primary schools including Toko School

Stratford District is the gateway to two National Parks - the Egmont National Park with its spectacular mountain and the Whanganui National Park with its vast areas of virgin rain forest and walkways.

The energy and tourism activities are both of growing significance to the Stratford District.

• John Edward (Ned) Shewry (1889), World champion woodchopper
• Arthur Collins (July 19, 1906), All Black
• John Graham (January 1, 1935), All Black, NZRU president, NZ cricket team manager, Auckland University Chancellor, Auckland Grammar School headmaster, businessman
• John McCullough (January 8, 1936), All Black
• Lane Penn, Representative rugby footballer, coach, All Black selector and NZRU President
• Alan Smith (December 10, 1942), All Black
• Dave Loveridge (April 22, 1952), All Black
• Christine Arthur (August 26, 1963), New Zealand field hockey player
• Mark "Bull" Allen (July 31, 1967), All Black, TV host
• Mark Robinson (January 17, 1974), All Black
• Brendan Haami (December 4, 1974), Rugby representative for Taranaki, Wellington Hurricanes and NZ Maori
• Johnny Weston (September 5, 1977), Rugby sevens representative for Otago, Taranaki and Scotland
• Shayne Austin (October 19, 1978), Rugby representative for Taranaki, Waikato Chiefs and NZ Maori

• Sylvia Ashton-Warner (December 17, 1908), Novelist, autobiographer and educational pioneer
• Michele Leggott (1956), Poet and literary scholar
• Greg Whyte (1958), Author
• Michael Hight (1961), Artist - painter
• Cheryll Sotheran, Founding CEO of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 1993-2002
• Dominic Sheehan, Author of "Finding Home" - novel that illustrates growing up in Stratford

• Dr. John (Jack) Bergin (January 17, 1921), Distinguished physician and neurologist, Catholic pro-life apologist
• Dr. Graham Gordon (December 10, 1927), Surgeon, St John's officer, NZMA Council Chairman (1977–1988) and NZMA President (1990–1991)
• Dr. Mel Brieseman, Missionary to India and Canterbury Medical Officer of Health

• Venn Young (February 19, 1929), Cabinet minister for Rob Muldoon's National Party-led government & homosexual rights activist
• Captain Peter B. Arnold, Captain Naval Reserve, New Zealand Navy 2005-
• Grant Coward, Police detective on cases such as the murder of German hitchhiker Birgit Brauer in 2005, and the police shooting of Waitara man Steven Wallace in 2000

• Alice Copping (May 14, 1906), Senior lecturer in nutrition, Queen Elizabeth College, University of London
• Dr. Alan Kirton (1933), Notable agricultural scientist

• Emily Stevens (September 3, 1900), Wholesale florist, nurserywoman, iris hybridiser
• Stephen Hoffman, Gallagher Animal Management General Sales manager
• Ben Bradley (May 10, 1988), World Champ Air Guitar

• William Malone (January 24, 1859 - 8 August 1915), Famous New Zealand Military Leader
• Percy Thomson (1884-1962), Mayor, lawyer, and art patron
• Michael Freeman (Born December 9, 1960), New Zealand chess player
• Jeremiah Trueman (Born 19 May, 1987), New Zealand national basketball representative

• Tourism Taranaki

• Stratford District Council
• Stratord Information Centre
• Stratford High School
• St Mary's Diocesan School
• Toko Primary School
• St Josephs School

Coordinates: 39°20′S 174°17′E