Aongatete#Demographics

{{Short description|Rural community in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Aongatete

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| settlement_type = Rural community

| image_skyline = Seeka Kiwifruit.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Seeka Kiwifruit at Aongatete Coolstores

| etymology =

| nickname =

| image_map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|-37.608|175.943}}|zoom=9}}

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|-37.608|175.943|region:NZ_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = New Zealand

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Bay of Plenty

| subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority

| subdivision_name2 = Western Bay of Plenty District

| subdivision_type3 = Ward

| subdivision_name3 = Katikati-Waihi Beach

| subdivision_type4 = Community

| subdivision_name4 = Katikati Community

| leader_title = Territorial Authority

| leader_name = Western Bay of Plenty District Council

| leader_title1 = Regional council

| leader_name1 = Bay of Plenty Regional Council

| leader_title2 = Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty

| leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor|y}}

| leader_title3 = Coromandel MP

| leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Coromandel MP|y}}

| leader_title4 = Waiariki MP

| leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waiariki MP|y}}

| seat_type = Electorates

| seat = {{ubl|Coromandel|Waiariki (Māori)}}

| population_as_of =

| population_footnotes =

| population_total =

| postal_code_type = Postcode(s)

| postal_code = 3181

| website =

}}

Aongatete is a settlement and rural community in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on State Highway 2, south of Katikati and north-west of Ōmokoroa. The landscape consists of a long valley descending into the Tauranga Harbour.{{cite news |last1=Balvert-O'Conner |first1=Monique |title=The rural haven where you can hear the plants making music |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/garden/114299329/the-rural-haven-where-you-can-hear-the-plants-making-music |agency=NZ Gardener |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=29 July 2019}}

The local Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park, managed by the Department of Conservation, including walks through puriri and kohekohe forest, along the Aongatete Stream, and to swimming holes.{{cite web |title=Aongatete walks |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/bay-of-plenty/places/kaimai-mamaku-conservation-park/things-to-do/tracks/aongatete-walks/ |website=doc.govt.nz |publisher=Department of Conservation}} Ngai Tamawhariua are guardians of the 500 hectare native forest, and a Forest and Bird volunteer group helps maintain it.{{cite web |title=Aongatete Forest Project |url=https://www.forestandbird.org.nz/projects/aongatete-forest-project |website=forestandbird.org.nz |publisher=Forest and Bird}} A restoration trust was established in 2006 to trap or poison pests like stoats, rats, cats and possums.{{cite news |last1=Hess |first1=Allison |title=Battle for the birds making a difference in the Bay |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=11836864 |agency=Bay of Plenty Times |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=27 April 2017}}

The Aongatete Lodge and Outdoor Education Centre, located in the forest, hosts school camps and events like the International Juggling Association Oceania Competition.{{cite web |title=Aongatete |url=https://www.aongateteoec.co.nz/ |website=aongateteoec.co.nz |publisher=Aongatete Outdoor Education Centre}}{{cite news |last1=Staff reporter |title=Juggling and circus festivities for all |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/232720-juggling-and-circus-festivities-all.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=25 January 2020}}

The settlement includes Aongatete Coolstores, a kiwifruit orcharding, packing and coolstore business.{{cite news |last1=Staff reporter |title=Seeka Limited buys Aongatete Coolstores for $25m |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12212422 |agency=Bay of Plenty Times |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=13 March 2019}} Seeka Limited, a produce company listed on the NZX, purchased the business for $25 million in March 2019.{{cite news |last1=Staff reporters |title=A profitable year for Seeka |url=https://www.ruralnewsgroup.co.nz/rural-news/rural-general-news/a-profitable-year-for-seeka |agency=ruralnews.co.nz |publisher=Rural News Group |date=16 March 2020}}

Vodafone installed a cell tower at Aongatete in January 2014.{{cite news |title=New tower boosts broadband options for Aongatete |url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/technology/new-tower-boosts-broadband-options-aongatete/5/179133 |agency=Vodafone New Zealand |publisher=Voxy.co.nz |date=16 January 2014}} Ultra fast broadband internet was introduced to Aongatete in December 2019.{{cite news |title=Fibre Uptake Soaring As UFB Network Expansion Completed 2 Years Early By Ultrafast Fibre |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2002/S00221/fibre-uptake-soaring-as-ufb-network-expansion-completed-2-years-early-by-ultrafast-fibre.htm |agency=Ultrafast Fibre Ltd |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=17 February 2020}}

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, a local couple tried to cheer up the community with humorous displays featuring teddy bears.{{cite news |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Daniel |title=Laughter is the best medicine |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/238988-laughter-is-best-medicine.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=4 April 2020}}