Tākaka is a small town situated at the southeastern end of Golden Bay, at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island, located on the lower reaches of the Tākaka River. State Highway 60 runs through Takaka and follows the river valley before climbing over Tākaka Hill, to Motueka (57 km away) linking Golden Bay with the more populated coast of Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere to the southeast. The town is served by Takaka Aerodrome. History The name of the town may derive from Taha'a island in the Society Islands in French Polynesia. A local myth about a taniwha in the nearby Parapara River is similar to one told about the Parapara strait, which separates Taha'a from Motue'a island. From 1853 to 1876, Tākaka was administered as part of the Nelson Province. Sawmilling was an important business for Takaka in the 1870s. The Takaka tramway was built in 1880. Prior to that time timber was transported to the port by teams of bullocks which would often leave the main street of Takaka looking like a rutted bog. After flooding in 1904 did significant damage to the tramway, it was sold in 1905 and the locomotive, rolling stock and rails were shipped to Onehunga by sea. Takaka contributed soldiers to the Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War with 1, 44 and 25 respectively dying in each conflict. In June 2005, much of the town was temporarily evacuated after fire swept through Tākaka's biggest industrial complex, a dairy factory. There were fears that volatile chemicals stored at the plant might explode, leading to the release of poisonous gases, which later proved to be unfounded. In July 2020, the name of the town was officially gazetted as Tākaka by the New Zealand Geographic Board. Geography The area around Tākaka Hill has a cave system, including New Zealand's deepest vertical shaft, Harwoods Hole. Tākaka and Golden Bay are known for rock climbing, particularly around the area of Paines Ford. The town is also known for Te Waikoropupū Springs (colloquially known as Pupu Springs). The antipode of Tākaka is the town of Coriscada, Portugal. Climate Takaka is one of the warmest locations in the South Island, due to its northerly position and maritime influences from the Golden Bay. Because of the hills in the Kahurangi National Park to the south-west of Takaka, the town receives substantially less rainfall than