Meremere

Living in Meremere but working elsewhere has also become more feasible in recent years due to its position alongside the Waikato Expressway. Meremere is well-connected for travelling to either Auckland or Hamilton and places in between. The Expressway is the major four-lane state highway roading network linking Auckland to Hamilton and further south. 

Meremere is north of the Whangamarino wetlands, a significant environmental feature in the north Waikato. Established as a Ramsar site in 1989, this wetlands area has been developed further since the late 1990s. Managed by the Department of Conservation, it is also the site of the first National Wetland Trail established in New Zealand.

While Meremere is a significant historic site in relation to the New Zealand land wars, the township itself began to grow back in the 1950s when the Meremere power station was built.

The Meremere Dragway continues the strong motor sporting theme for the area, with the venue hosting many events throughout the year, including Import All-Stars, 4&Rotary Nationals, Nostalgia Drags, the IHRA Championships and Nightspeed Dragwars. As a result, both Hampton Downs Motorsport Park and the Meremere Dragway regularly attract large numbers of motorsport participants and followers to the area.

Meremere is approximately 30 kilometres (km) north of Huntly and almost exactly halfway between Hamilton and Auckland (62km north of Hamilton: 63km south of Auckland). Nearly 500 people live there (468 – Census March 2013). There is also easy access to either the east coast at Miranda or the west coast at Port Waikato, both within 30 minutes’ drive.