Edgecumbe

The town is named after the small village of Edgecumbe in Cornwall, United Kingdom, between Penryn and Helston. Edgecumbe was linked with Tauranga and Auckland by rail, with the opening of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway and Taneatua Express in 1928.

In 1987, a large earthquake centred on Edgecumbe shook the Bay of Plenty, causing widespread damage and causing much of the population to leave Edgecumbe.

In July 2004, May 2005 and April 2017, the town experienced heavy flooding that ruined many homes.{{cite web|url=http://www.whakatane.govt.nz/Services/DisasterMitigationProjects/ |title=Disaster Mitigation Projects |publisher=Whakatane District Council |access-date=28 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627181535/http://www.whakatane.govt.nz/Services/DisasterMitigationProjects |archive-date=27 June 2009 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.noted.co.nz/planet/edgecumbe-flood-what-the-river-washed-away/|title=Edgecumbe flood: What the river washed away|last=Noted|website=Noted|language=en|access-date=2019-06-19}} In the 2005 flood, the river swelled to within 5 cm of breaching the flood banks that had been put in place seven years prior.

{{main|1987 Edgecumbe earthquake}}

File:Edgecumbe Fonterra Earthquake Memorial.jpg

The earthquake was a major turning point in the history of Edgecumbe. It measured 6.3 on the Richter magnitude scale and struck the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand on 2 March 1987, just after 1.42 pm. The earthquake was very shallow, being centred approximately 8 km from the Earth's surface. The earthquake was one of the most damaging New Zealand's North Island has experienced in recent decades, with approximately 50% of the houses in Edgecumbe being damaged by the quake. There was extensive damage to a local milk factory, with large storage tanks toppled. Kawerau was another nearby town that suffered damage and Whakatāne was also badly shaken. An 80-tonne New Zealand Railways DC class locomotive was thrown onto its side.

The earthquake caused no fatalities.{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-earthquakes/11|first=Eileen|last=McSaveney|title=Historic earthquakes – The 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake|encyclopedia=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand|date=1 December 2010|access-date=13 February 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110107120335/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-earthquakes/11| archive-date= 7 January 2011 | url-status= live}}{{cite web|title=1987 Edgecumbe earthquake|url=http://www.eqc.govt.nz/downloads/pdfs/newsletters/Rumblings-19-july.pdf|work=Rumblings Issue 19|publisher=Earthquake Commission|date=July 2009|access-date=13 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102105205/http://eqc.govt.nz/downloads/pdfs/newsletters/Rumblings-19-july.pdf|archive-date=2 January 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|title=M 6.5, Edgecumbe, March 2, 1987|url=http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/historic-earthquakes/top-nz/quake-10.html|work=GeoNet|access-date=13 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305104013/http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/historic-earthquakes/top-nz/quake-10.html|archive-date=5 March 2011|df=dmy-all}}

However, one person died at the time as a result of a heart attack, possibly due to the quake.{{cite web|title=Earthquake: Edgecumbe|url=http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Kids/NZDisasters/Edgecumbe.asp|publisher=Christchurch City Libraries|access-date=13 February 2011}} A foreshock just minutes before had cut the power supply and many people had moved away from heavy machinery and out of their houses. The largest aftershock was measured at 5.2 and struck at 1.52 pm.

A crack {{convert|7|km|mi}} long opened in the Rangitaiki Plains near Edgecumbe, as a result of the earthquake. It is now known as the 'Edgecumbe Fault'. At one point, the land close to the fault dropped {{convert|2|m|ft}}.

The epicentre of the quake was approximately {{convert|2.24|km|mi}} south-south-east of the town of Matatā, or {{convert|15|km|mi}} north-north-west of Edgecumbe. The intense ground-shaking caused by the earthquake led to a large number of ground surface failures, including sand boils, ridge-top shatters and debris avalanches on steeper slopes.{{cite journal |last = Franks |first = C.A.M. |year = 1988 |title = Engineering geological aspects of the Edgecumbe, New Zealand earthquake of 2 March 1987 |journal = Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology |volume = 21 |issue = 4 |pages = 337–345 |doi = 10.1144/GSL.QJEG.1988.021.04.06}} Because of the earthquake, many people left and therefore Edgecumbe's population dropped considerably. Edgecumbe is slowly recovering as it has increased by 21 in the years 2006 to 2013, possibly due to many kiwifruit orchards being affected by PSA.

In April 2017, remnants of Cyclone Debbie caused heavy rainfall in the region. At 8:30 am on April 6, water from the Rangitaiki River breached a stopbank next to Edgecumbe, causing widespread flooding across the township.{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11832903 |title=Edgecumbe evacuates as water swamps the town - National - NZ Herald News |publisher=Nzherald.co.nz |date=2017-04-06 |access-date=2017-04-08}} A state of emergency was declared for the Whakatāne District, and around 2000 people were evacuated to Kawerau and Whakatāne.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/151270-state-of-emergency-declared.html |title=State of emergency declared |publisher=SunLive |date=2017-04-06 |access-date=2018-07-05}} More than 300 homes were damaged, with some becoming uninhabitable.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12022736 |title=Edgecumbe flood anniversary: A year of highs and lows |publisher=Nzherald.co.nz |date=2018-03-31 |access-date=2018-07-05}}

There were no deaths due to the flood, yet, over 50 percent of people there were highly affected by it.

The largest animal rescue in New Zealand history was recorded during the aftermath of the flood. Approximately 1000 animals were rescued by an SPCA led operation, with support from local civil defence rescue teams and veterinarians from Massey University. The event highlighted a significant gap in animal welfare emergency management capability in New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE28637206|title=SPCA Rescue: Operation Edgecumbe 2017 After Action Report|last=Glassey|first=Steve|date=28 October 2017|publisher=Wellington SPCA|access-date=28 October 2017}}

Edgecumbe covers {{Convert|2.01|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=7 January 2023|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Edgecumbe|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Edgecumbe|y}}|R}}/2.01|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,626|2013|1,638|2018|1,644|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=}}

Edgecumbe had a population of 1,644 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (1.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 546 households, comprising 855 males and 786 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 34.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 402 people (24.5%) aged under 15 years, 330 (20.1%) aged 15 to 29, 654 (39.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 255 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 66.6% European/Pākehā, 46.4% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, 4.7% Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.2% had no religion, 28.5% were Christian, 4.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 126 (10.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 318 (25.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 144 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 618 (49.8%) people were employed full-time, 165 (13.3%) were part-time, and 66 (5.3%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Edgecumbe (202200)|edgecumbe|Edgecumbe}}

Edgecumbe is located inland from the coast on the end of the fertile Rangitaiki Plains. The nearby beach is part of Maketu. The volcanic cone of Mount Edgecumbe, 15 kilometres to the south and close to the town of Kawerau, is visible from Edgecumbe.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Edgecumbe (1971–2000)

| Jan high C = 23.9

| Feb high C = 24.1

| Mar high C = 22.4

| Apr high C = 20.2

| May high C = 17.5

| Jun high C = 14.9

| Jul high C = 14.6

| Aug high C = 15.3

| Sep high C = 16.9

| Oct high C = 18.6

| Nov high C = 20.3

| Dec high C = 22.1

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 18.9

| Feb mean C = 19.2

| Mar mean C = 17.5

| Apr mean C = 14.9

| May mean C = 12.2

| Jun mean C = 9.9

| Jul mean C = 9.4

| Aug mean C = 10.1

| Sep mean C = 11.7

| Oct mean C = 13.6

| Nov mean C = 15.4

| Dec mean C = 17.3

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 13.9

| Feb low C = 14.2

| Mar low C = 12.6

| Apr low C = 9.7

| May low C = 6.9

| Jun low C = 4.9

| Jul low C = 4.3

| Aug low C = 4.9

| Sep low C = 6.5

| Oct low C = 8.5

| Nov low C = 10.5

| Dec low C = 12.4

| year low C =

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 91.7

|Feb rain mm = 89.2

|Mar rain mm = 149.2

|Apr rain mm = 95.1

|May rain mm = 114.8

|Jun rain mm = 170.9

|Jul rain mm = 119.6

|Aug rain mm = 120.7

|Sep rain mm = 119.1

|Oct rain mm = 96.8

|Nov rain mm = 74.5

|Dec rain mm = 123.9

|year rain mm =

|source 1 = NIWA{{cite web

|url = https://data.niwa.co.nz/

|title = NIWA Datahub (Agent number: 1668)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 20 Nov 2024}}

}}

The Association Football Club Plains Rangers AFC{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/nzbazza/|title=Gary Fowell Builders Plains Rangers A.F.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026214053/http://geocities.com/nzbazza/|archive-date=26 October 2009}} is based at the Edgecumbe Domain, along with rugby and hockey.

The Edgecumbe Volunteer Fire Brigade{{cite web |url=http://www.freewebs.com/edgecumbefirebrigade/ |title=Home – Edgecumbe Fire Brigade |publisher=Freewebs.com |access-date=20 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611004842/http://www.freewebs.com/edgecumbefirebrigade/ |archive-date=11 June 2015 |df=dmy-all }} is located on SH2 and services the township and surrounding area.

The town has a local rugby club,{{cite web |title=Club Contacts |url=https://www.boprugby.co.nz/community-rugby/senior-club-rugby/club-contacts/ |website=boprugby.co.nz |publisher=Bay of Plenty Rugby}} and a Kart Sport track.{{cite web |title=Kart Sport Eastern Bay of Plenty |url=https://www.kartsportebop.co.nz/ |website=kartsportebop.co.nz}}

Edgecumbe School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,{{cite web |title=Edgecumbe School Official School Website |url=http://edgecumbe.school.nz |website=edgecumbe.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Edgecumbe School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1711 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1711|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.{{cite web |title=Edgecumbe School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1711 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}

Edgecumbe College is a co-educational state high school for Year 9 to 13 students,{{cite web |title=Edgecumbe College Official School Website |url=http://www.edgecumbecollege.school.nz |website=edgecumbecollege.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Edgecumbe College Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=145 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|145|y}}.{{cite web |title=Edgecumbe College Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=145 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}

• Eve Rimmer, paraplegic athlete

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{{Whakatāne District}}

Category:Whakatāne District

Category:Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region