Taihape,town, Manawatu-Wanganui local government region, south-
central North Island, New Zealand. It lies along the Hautapu
River, 7 miles (11 km) above the latter’s confluence with the
Rangitikei. It was founded in 1894 as a coaching station on a
track leading east to Hastings and was known as Otaihape, a
Maori word meaning the “abode of Tai the hunchback.” It quickly
developed as the centre of a lumber industry. Situated along a
major highway and railway to Wellington (148 miles [238 km]
southwest), Taihape now serves a dairy- and sheep-farming area.
It has engineering works, iron and brass foundries, and
furniture and concrete-products factories. Pop. (1987 est.2001)
21,420808.