meeting ground for the Ngāti Kahungunu hapū of Ngāi Toroiwaho. Education Takapau School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of The school opened in 1879. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Takapau is a Year 1–8 is a co-educational state Kura Kaupapa Māori school, with a roll of as of The school opened in 1994. Railway station Takapau had a railway station from 12 March 1877 to 27 September 1981. It was the terminus of the line from Spit for 10 months, until 25 January 1878, when the extension to Kopua opened. Takapau at that time was on the northern edge of the Seventy Mile Bush. Edmund Allan and Samuel Kingstreet had a £14,100 contract to build the extension of the Napier to Waipukurau railway south to Takapau. They built a 5th class station in 1875 and Donald McLeod, a Waipukurau carpenter, built a goods shed and platform in 1877. Initially, only one train a day ran from Takapau. In 1890 there were two trains a day. There was a post office at the station from 1887 to 1911. By 1896 there were x and x goods sheds and also a cart approach, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, urinals and a passing loop for 24 wagons, extended to 55 in 1911 and further extended in 1940. In 1905 a verandah was added and the platform extended. Electric lights were installed in 1921. Railway houses were built in 1928 and 1946. On 27 September 1981 the old station closed and a new station and loop line opened near Oruawharo, to the east. The loop is still in use, with sidings linking to the Silver Fern Farms works and a platform and shelter remain, which appear weed-grown in a 2015 photo. There has been no regular passenger train since at least 1995. There is now only a single line passing through the original Takapau station site. There was also a passing loop at Whenuahou, south of Takapau, which was originally used for construction of the viaduct to the south. References Central Hawke's Bay District Populated places in the Hawke's Bay Region