Ngaere

Ngaere is a village situated on State Highway 3, 4 kilometres south of Stratford, New Zealand. The name Ngaere literally means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland. For a time the name was spelt "Ngaire", but it was changed to its Maori spelling in 1909. "Ngaere Gardens", which once hosted a menagerie of exotic animals, was a popular picnic spot for early 20th century families. Several attempts at resurrecting the gardens have been to no avail. The gardens have now been cleared, and all that remains now is the large lake, and a number of mature exotic trees. Another "famous in NZ" landmark is the Ngaere Dairy Factory, founded in 1914. It had its own brand of cheese called...