synthetic petrol production and low market prices made the process uneconomical at the time. Motunui has the two largest wooden structures in the southern hemisphere and they are only exceeded in size, anywhere in the world, by the Buddhist temple Tōdai-ji in Nara, Japan. The Motunui plant was closed in December 2004, and restarted in 2008. An onshore production facility for the Pohokura oilfield has been built immediately adjacent to it. The town continues to be a service centre for the farming sector, particularly to the north and northeast. Farming in the Waitara catchment includes dairying, beef cattle for meat, sheep for both meat and wool, fruit—mainly kiwifruit—other horticulture including tree and shrub nurseries, and poultry for meat and eggs. Education Waitara High School is the only secondary (years 9–13) school in Waitara with a roll of . The school celebrated 60 years in 2007. Manukorihi Intermediate is an intermediate (years 7–8) school with a roll of . It celebrated its 25th jubilee in 1999. Waitara Central School and Waitara East School are contributing primary (years 1–6) schools with rolls of and , respectively. Waitara Central celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2000. St Joseph's School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of . It is a state integrated Catholic school. All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of Sport Cricket The original Waitara Cricket Club was formed in October 1878, with Mr. J. Elliot elected club captain. Mr L. Issit as secretary and treasurer and a committee consisting of Messrs. Bayly, Tutty and Smith. Annual subscriptions for members were set at 10s. The club colours were chosen to be the same as the Waitara Boating Club, "scarlet and white". Soccer The Waitara Soccer Club was first formed in 1905, and was originally based at the Pukekohe Domain (Camp Reserve), Browne Street, Waitara. The first match the club played was against the New Plymouth A.F.C. on the afternoon of 18 May 1905. Waitara took the lead early in the match, then New Plymouth scored three answered goals for a 3–1 victory. In its first season in the Taranaki Championship, the club won the Julian Cup. In popular culture In 2020, Waitara was featured in a reality documentary-series Taranaki Hard. References Further reading Michael King The Penguin History of New Zealand, 2003. Pp 205 & 212 James Belich The New Zealand Wars, 1986. General historical works Business