Taihape, town, south-central North Island, New Zealand. It lies along the Hautapu River, 7 miles (11 km) above the latter’s confluence with the Rangitikei River.
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. (2006) 1,788.