Kawerau
{{Short description|Town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Kawerau
|official_name =
|other_name =
|native_name =
|nickname =
|settlement_type = Minor urban area
|total_type = District
|motto =
|image_skyline = Plunket St, Kawerau, March 2014.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Kawerau, with Putauaki in the background
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|image_map = Kawerau in the North Island.svg
|mapsize =
|map_caption = Kawerau district within the North Island
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|pushpin_label_position = left
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|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = New Zealand
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = Bay of Plenty
|seat_type = Electorates
|seat = East Coast (general)
Waiariki (Māori)
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|p2 =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = {{NZ officeholder data|Kawerau District Mayor|y}}
|leader_title2 = Territorial authority
|leader_name2 = Kawerau District Council
|established_title = Established
|established_date = 1953
|area_magnitude =
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|area_land_km2 = 23.56
|area_water_km2 =
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|population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}}
|population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}}
|population_note =
|population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Kawerau district|y}}
|population_urban = {{NZ population data 2018|Kawerau|y}}
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi =
|timezone = NZST
|utc_offset = +12
|timezone_DST = NZDT
|utc_offset_DST = +13
|coor_type =
|coordinates = {{coord|38|06|S|176|42|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = Postcode
|postal_code = 3127
|area_code = 07
|website = [http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/ Kawerau District Council]
|footnotes =
}}
Kawerau is a town in the Bay of Plenty Region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated 100 km south-east of Tauranga and 58 km east of Rotorua.[http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/BayOfPlenty/BayOfPlentyPlaces/10/en Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand: Kawerau] It is the seat of the Kawerau District Council, and the only town in Kawerau District.
Kawerau is a small community, with an economy that is largely driven by the nearby pulp and paper mill that is run by Norske Skog and OJI Fibre Solutions. It is located along State Highway 34, southwest of Onepu, and is the terminus of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, and the commencing point of the Murupara Branch railway.
Kawerau is among the three towns in New Zealand with a majority Māori population, along with Ōpōtiki and Wairoa. Kawerau was one of the worst-affected towns in the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake.
History and culture
=European settlement=
Kawerau, one of the youngest towns in New Zealand, was founded in 1953 as a mill town for the new Tasman pulp and paper mill. The site for the mill was chosen by the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company because of the ready availability of geothermal energy,{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19521127.2.96 |title=N.Z. PAPER AND PULP MILLS |work=The Press |page=10 |date=27 November 1952 |access-date=20 February 2024 |via=Papers Past}} water from the Tarawera River and the large supply of pine timber from the nearby Kaingaroa Forest.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/information.html |title=Kawerau District Council: Information |access-date=2007-03-15 |archive-date=2011-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720185737/http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/information.html |url-status=dead }} The town site was chosen in February 1953.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530226.2.57 |title=TASMAN PAPER PROJECT |work=The Press |page=8 |date=26 February 1953 |access-date=20 February 2024 |via=Papers Past}}
Unlike most other towns of its size, Kawerau was carefully planned before construction.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19530912.2.61 |title=TASMAN PULP INDUSTRY |work=The Press |page=6 |date=12 September 1953 |access-date=20 February 2024 |via=Papers Past}} The town was built with an impressive number of facilities, to accommodate a multinational specialist workforce. The mill continues to drive the local economy and greatly influences the fortunes of the town. The town's population peaked in the early 1980s (8718 in the 1981 census) but has declined significantly since then due to the restructuring of the mill and of associated industries.
=Recent history=
In 2012, mill owner Norske Skog said it would be shutting one of the two newsprint machines at the mill.{{cite news| url= http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/125243/kawerau-paper-mill-job-losses-confirmed|work=Radio New Zealand | title= Kawerau paper mill job losses confirmed| date=January 9, 2013}} In January 2013, it was confirmed nearly half the mill's jobs would be lost.{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Job-losses-confirmed-at-Kawerau-mill/tabid/421/articleID/282486/Default.aspx|work=3 News NZ | title= Job losses confirmed at Kawerau mill| date=January 9, 2013}}
Norse Skog of Norway, which is the world's second-biggest producer of newsprint, confirmed the closure of one of its two paper machines at the Tasman Mill at Kawerau with the loss of 110 jobs. The company first announced its intention to shut one machine last September, following a review of its newsprint capacity in Australasia. The remaining Tasman machine would continue to produce newsprint, predominantly for the New Zealand and Australian markets. Norske Skog management would work closely with employees, unions and other stakeholders on the detailed closure arrangements, including a mill-wide restructuring programme. Peter McCartey, General Manager of Tasman Mill said it was widely understood the decision had been brought about by global market forces within the industry. The second paper machine had operated successfully for over 50 years. Norske Skog has the widest geographical spread of all the paper producers, with mills in 11 countries on all continents except Africa.{{cite web|last=Gray|first=Jamie|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/kawerau/news/article.cfm?l_id=500634&objectid=10858094/Norse-Skog-Cuts-110-Jobs.html |title=Norse Skog Cuts 110 Jobs|work=The New Zealand Herald |date=2013-01-09|access-date=2013-07-09}}
As of July 16, 2021, all of the three newsprint paper machines have ceased operation due to less demand as the world is going digital.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Kawerau is also home to geothermal power supply Kawerau Power Station for the local industry as well as the rest of New Zealand.
=Marae=
The local marae, Tohia o te Rangi, is affiliated with the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāi Tamarangi.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}} It features the Waitaha Ariki Kore meeting house.{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}
Demographics
Kawerau District covers {{Convert|23.56|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=4 March 2022|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Kawerau district|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Kawerau district|y}}|R}}/23.56|0}} people per km2.
{{Historical populations|2006|6,921|2013|6,363|2018|7,146|2023|7,539|percentages=pagr|align=left|source={{NZ census 2018|Kawerau District (026)|kawerau-district|Kawerau District}}}}
Kawerau District had a population of 7,539 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 393 people (5.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,176 people (18.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,720 males, 3,804 females and 15 people of other genders in 2,418 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.026%2B203700%2B203800%2B203901%2B203902.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,680 people (22.3%) aged under 15 years, 1,332 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,994 (39.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,527 (20.3%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 53.8% European (Pākehā); 63.2% Māori; 4.7% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori language by 18.3%, Samoan by 0.2% and other languages by 3.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 26.7% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 9.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.4%, and 9.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 411 (7.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,549 (60.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,794 (30.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 249 people (4.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,220 (37.9%) people were employed full-time, 609 (10.4%) were part-time, and 480 (8.2%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.026.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Kawerau District (026)}}
File:2023 NZ Census Population Density - Kawerau District.png
Geography
The {{Convert|820|m}} volcanic cone of Mount Edgecumbe/Putauaki lies {{Convert|3|km}} to the east of Kawerau, and is easily visible from the town. The Tarawera River straddles Kawerau to the east and continues north to the Bay of Plenty. Water is supplied to the town from two natural springs. Kawerau's water was judged the best-tasting in New Zealand in 2003 and 2004.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/services/watersupply |title=Kawerau District Council: Water Supply |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=2010-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522052129/http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/services/watersupply/ |url-status=dead }}
Kawerau has access to vast geothermal resources. There are a number of geothermal hot springs in the surrounding bush owned and operated by local families. The Kawerau geothermal field provides steam power for the paper mill, and a 90 MW geothermal power station is currently under construction.[http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/geothermal_energy/nz_geothermal_fields.asp New Zealand Geothermal Association: Geothermal fields] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224131000/http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/geothermal_energy/nz_geothermal_fields.asp |date=2007-02-24 }}
The District has a land area of {{Convert|23.56|km2||abbr=on}}, making it the smallest territorial authority in New Zealand in terms of land area. It is completely surrounded by the Whakatāne District.
Climate
In January 2008, the temperature exceeded 30 °C for five days. In winter (July to August) crisp early morning frosts are usually followed by clear, sunny days, and the average daily maximum temperature is around 15.6 °C.[http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/aboutourdistrict/default.asp Kawerau District Council: About Our District] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615204952/http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/aboutourdistrict/default.asp |date=2016-06-15 }}
Rainfall is spread throughout the year, though it is not uncommon to experience a drought during summer.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|location = Kawerau (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present)
|Jan record high C = 37.0
|Feb record high C = 35.6
|Mar record high C = 32.1
|Apr record high C = 29.7
|May record high C = 24.8
|Jun record high C = 22.1
|Jul record high C = 21.1
|Aug record high C = 22.0
|Sep record high C = 26.0
|Oct record high C = 28.8
|Nov record high C = 34.6
|Dec record high C = 34.8
|year record high C = 37.0
|Jan record low C = 3.7
|Feb record low C = 3.1
|Mar record low C = 1.0
|Apr record low C = -3.3
|May record low C = -4.2
|Jun record low C = -4.0
|Jul record low C = -4.4
|Aug record low C = -4.3
|Sep record low C = -1.4
|Oct record low C = -2.1
|Nov record low C = 0.7
|Dec record low C = 2.0
|year record low C = -4.4
| Jan high C = 25.8
| Feb high C = 25.6
| Mar high C = 24.0
| Apr high C = 21.0
| May high C = 18.1
| Jun high C = 15.5
| Jul high C = 14.8
| Aug high C = 15.9
| Sep high C = 17.7
| Oct high C = 20.0
| Nov high C = 22.2
| Dec high C = 24.0
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 19.8
| Feb mean C = 19.9
| Mar mean C = 18.2
| Apr mean C = 15.2
| May mean C = 12.6
| Jun mean C = 10.2
| Jul mean C = 9.4
| Aug mean C = 10.3
| Sep mean C = 12.1
| Oct mean C = 14.3
| Nov mean C = 16.3
| Dec mean C = 18.5
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 13.8
| Feb low C = 14.2
| Mar low C = 12.3
| Apr low C = 9.5
| May low C = 7.2
| Jun low C = 4.9
| Jul low C = 4.0
| Aug low C = 4.8
| Sep low C = 6.6
| Oct low C = 8.6
| Nov low C = 10.3
| Dec low C = 12.9
| year low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 118.4
|Feb rain mm = 131.6
|Mar rain mm = 134.8
|Apr rain mm = 134.3
|May rain mm = 115.8
|Jun rain mm = 155.4
|Jul rain mm = 140.0
|Aug rain mm = 148.7
|Sep rain mm = 127.8
|Oct rain mm = 162.3
|Nov rain mm = 140.9
|Dec rain mm = 132.6
|year rain mm =
| Jan sun =234.5
| Feb sun = 199.6
| Mar sun =208.2
| Apr sun =178.6
| May sun =160.4
| Jun sun =133.3
| Jul sun =158.4
| Aug sun =146.5
| Sep sun =170.4
| Oct sun =202.8
| Nov sun =237.1
| Dec sun =204.0
| year sun =
|source 1 = NIWA (rain 1981–2010)
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Kawerau
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/
|title = The National Climate Database - (Agent numbers: 1753, 21866, 36750)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 10 Sep 2024}}{{cite web
|url = https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/annual
|title = Annual Climate Summaries from 2000 to present.
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 16 Jan 2025}}
}}
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|location = Tarawera Forest (5km SW of Kawerau, 1971–2000)
| Jan high C = 25.0
| Feb high C = 24.9
| Mar high C = 22.8
| Apr high C = 20.1
| May high C = 16.9
| Jun high C = 14.3
| Jul high C = 13.6
| Aug high C = 14.8
| Sep high C = 16.6
| Oct high C = 19.0
| Nov high C = 21.1
| Dec high C = 23.1
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 18.9
| Feb mean C = 18.7
| Mar mean C = 16.8
| Apr mean C = 13.8
| May mean C = 10.5
| Jun mean C = 8.4
| Jul mean C = 7.6
| Aug mean C = 8.7
| Sep mean C = 10.5
| Oct mean C = 13.1
| Nov mean C = 15.2
| Dec mean C = 17.2
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 12.7
| Feb low C = 12.5
| Mar low C = 10.7
| Apr low C = 7.5
| May low C = 4.2
| Jun low C = 2.4
| Jul low C = 1.6
| Aug low C = 2.7
| Sep low C = 4.4
| Oct low C = 7.2
| Nov low C = 9.2
| Dec low C = 11.2
| year low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 92.0
|Feb rain mm = 139.6
|Mar rain mm = 187.4
|Apr rain mm = 196.9
|May rain mm = 166.2
|Jun rain mm = 230.4
|Jul rain mm = 172.7
|Aug rain mm = 193.3
|Sep rain mm = 151.7
|Oct rain mm = 160.5
|Nov rain mm = 135.1
|Dec rain mm = 140.1
|year rain mm =
|source 1 = NIWA{{cite web
|url = https://data.niwa.co.nz/
|title = NIWA Datahub (Agent number: 1772)
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 18 Jun 2025}}
}}
Events
File:Kawerau christmas parade 2009.jpg
Kawerau hosts a number of events each year, including the National Woodskills Festival, 'King of the Mountain' race and the Tarawera 100 motorcycle endurance race. Kawerau is also growing as an event venue for white water rapid competitions such as kayaking and rafting. Kawerau was a venue for the 2013 World Rafting Championships.
= Kawerau Woodfest & National Woodskills Competition =
The National Woodskills Festival is a competition that encompasses a broad spectrum of wood craftsmanship and wood art. Some of the competitors are professionals, but many are amateurs. The Woodskills Festival was first held in Kawerau in 1989 as a local competition. By 1991, the event had become such a popular annual competition that it was developed into a national event, attracting exhibitors from throughout New Zealand. The competition has now developed into a broader range of attractions which captivates many skills from the Forestry Industry and now takes over the town for the weekend, in what is known as Kawerau Woodfest.
The annual Kawerau Woodfest attracts hundreds of visitors from around the country, making it the town's largest event and, as a result, is the highest economic beneficial event in Kawerau. As well as the Woodskills Festival, there is an Arts & Crafts Festival with displays open on Saturday and Sunday at various venues around Kawerau.
Education
Kawerau has two co-educational state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Kawerau Putauaki School,{{cite web |title=Kawerau Putauaki School Official School Website |url=http://www.putauaki.school.nz |website=putauaki.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Kawerau Putauaki School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=655 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|655|y}};{{cite web |title=Kawerau Putauaki School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=655 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} and Kawerau South School,{{cite web |title=Kawerau South School Official School Website |url=http://www.kawerausouth.school.nz |website=kawerausouth.school.nz}}{{cite web |title=Kawerau South School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1770 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1770|y}}.{{cite web |title=Kawerau South School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1770 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}
Te Whata Tau o Putauaki is a co-educational Year 1 to 8 state primary school,{{cite web |title=Te Whata Tau o Putauaki Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=651 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|651|y}}.{{cite web |title=Te Whata Tau o Putauaki Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=651 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}
Tarawera High School is the town's Year 7 to 13 secondary school,{{cite web |title=Tarawera High School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=661 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|661|y}}.{{cite web |title=Tarawera High School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=661 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The Kawerau Teen Parent Unit is located in an old school house.{{cite web |title=Kawerau Teen Parent Unit Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2758 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}{{cite web |title=Kawerau Teen Parent Unit Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=2758 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}
Notable residents
- Danielle Hayes, model
- Gill Gatfield, sculptor
- John Rowles, singer
- Ria van Dyke, model
- Sarah Walker, Women's BMX world champion
- William Warbrick, rugby league player
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://kaweraunz.com/ KawerauNZ.com]
- [https://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/ Kawerau District Council website]
{{Cities and districts of New Zealand}}
{{Whakatāne District}}
{{Authority control}}