Tolaga Bay

The Ūawa River reaches the Pacific Ocean in the middle of Tolaga Bay. There is a bar at the river mouth with around 2 metres of water at high tide. The Ūawa River is called the Hikuwai further up. Tributaries include the Waiau and the Mangaheia. In 2018 heavy rains washed huge amounts of discarded forestry timber (or slash) down the Ūawa River, which choked up the estuary, covered the beach, and caused extensive damage to farms and houses.{{Cite journal|last=Arnold|first=Naomi|date=July–August 2018|title=When the rain came for Tolaga Bay|url=https://www.nzgeo.com/photography/when-the-rain-came-for-tolaga-bay/|journal=New Zealand Geographic|issue=152|pages=10–15}}

An island in the bay was originally named Spöring Island by Cook, after his expedition's assistant naturalist and instrument maker, Herman Spöring, a Finnish botanist. It is however today again known by its Māori name, Pourewa.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The bay has an arched rock, sometimes known as Spörings Arch, which was illustrated by Herman Spöring Jr. in James Cook's voyage in October 1769.{{Cite web |title=Arched rock, Tolaga Bay: 1769 (1st of 2) |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/33500/arched-rock-tolaga-bay-1769}}{{Cite web |title=Arched rock, Tolaga Bay: 2011 (2nd of 2) |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33501/arched-rock-tolaga-bay-2011}}

File:A_fortified_town_or_village_called_a_hippah_(Pā),_built_on_a_perforated_rock,_at_Tolaga_in_New_Zealand_by_Thomas_Morris_and_Herman_Diedrich_Sporing,_1769.jpg

Uawa Reserve is the settlement's local sports ground.{{cite web |title=Gisborne Parks and Reserves |url=https://www.gdc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/ |website=gdc.govt.nz |publisher=Gisborne District Council}}

Statistics New Zealand describes Tolaga Bay as a rural settlement, which covers {{Convert|7.54|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=19 January 2023|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Tolaga Bay|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Tolaga Bay|y}}|R}}/7.54|0}} people per km². It is part of the larger Wharekaka statistical area.

{{Historical populations|2006|810|2013|750|2018|831|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Tolaga Bay|source=}}

File:Tolaga Bay with Uawa River.jpg

Tolaga Bay had a population of 831 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (10.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 21 people (2.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 294 households, comprising 423 males and 414 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female, with 222 people (26.7%) aged under 15 years, 132 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 357 (43.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 26.7% European/Pākehā, 86.6% Māori, 4.3% Pacific peoples, 1.1% Asian, and 0.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.6% had no religion, 36.1% were Christian, 5.4% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 66 (10.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 159 (26.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 54 people (8.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 258 (42.4%) people were employed full-time, 87 (14.3%) were part-time, and 48 (7.9%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7015502–7015506}}

Wharekaka statistical area covers {{Convert|1197.18|km2||abbr=on}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Wharekaka|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Wharekaka|y}}|R}}/1197.18|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,914|2013|1,728|2018|1,851|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Wharekaka|source=}}

File:Tolaga Bay Inn.jpg

Wharekaka had a population of 1,851 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 123 people (7.1%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 63 people (−3.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 660 households, comprising 945 males and 906 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 37.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 465 people (25.1%) aged under 15 years, 297 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 867 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 222 (12.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 49.6% European/Pākehā, 64.2% Māori, 2.9% Pacific peoples, 0.6% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 5.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.1% had no religion, 34.5% were Christian, 3.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 213 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 324 (23.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 180 people (13.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 687 (49.6%) people were employed full-time, 219 (15.8%) were part-time, and 81 (5.8%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Wharekaka (205200)|wharekaka|Wharekaka}}

Image:TolagaBay.jpg

File:Cooks Cove4.jpg

Tolaga Bay was named by Lt. James Cook in 1769. Described as "an obvious corruption of a Maori name", the exact derivation of the name is unclear. It may have been a misunderstanding of "teraki" or "tarakaka", referring to the local south-westerly wind rather than the place.A. W. Reed, A Dictionary of Maori Place Names, p 119, A. H. & A. W. Reed, Wellington 1961[https://web.archive.org/web/20081014155038/http://www.gisbornenz.com/default.asp?id=25], GisborneNZ.com, accessed 6 June 2018 The original Māori name is Uawa Nui A Ruamatua (shortened to Uawa), and some local residents now refer to the area as Hauiti, and themselves as Hauitians[http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/698675 (in the comments)] from the local hapū Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti.

At the time of Cook's visit, according to Anne Salmond, here "a famous school of learning (Known as Te Rawheoro) that specialized in tribal lore and carving was sited..." Tupaia, the Raiatean navigator accompanying Cook since Tahiti, met with the tohunga, priest, of this whare wananga. Tupaia exchanged news of the "Māori island homelands, known to Māori as 'Rangiatea' (Ra'iatea), 'Hawaiki' (Havai'i, the ancient name for Rai'iatea), and 'Tawhiti' (Tahiti)." The Māori viewed Tupaia as a tohunga, and many children born during his visit bore his name. Additionally, Tupaia made a sketch within the rock shelter of Opoutama ('Cook's Cove' or 'Tupaia's Cave'), according to Joel Polack.{{cite book|last1=Salmond|first1=Anne|title=Aphrodite's Island|date=2010|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=9780520261143|pages=[https://archive.org/details/aphroditesisland00salm/page/228 228-230,235,385]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/aphroditesisland00salm/page/228}}

In the 1830s there was a thriving flax trade involving early European traders like Barnet Burns. By 1998, the wharf had deteriorated and was in danger of being closed. In response, the Tolaga Bay Save the Wharf Trust raised funds and gained technical help to restore it. The wharf has now been re-opened and the refurbishment project finished in May 2013.Gisborne Herald, Friday, March 08, 2013, [http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=31642 Project to restore old wharf nears end]

Two marae are located south of the main township:

• Te Rawheoro Marae and Te Rawheoro meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāti Patu Whare, Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Ngāti Wakarara.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}
• Hauiti Marae and Ruakapanga meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāi Tutekohi, Ngāti Kahukuranui and Te Aitanga a Hauiti.

Three marae are located north of the main township:

• Puketawai Marae and Te Amowhiu meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Porou hapū of Te Whānau a Te Rangipureora.
• Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna Marae and Hinemaurea meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāti Kahukuranui, a hapū of Te Aitanga-ā-Hauiti.
• Ōkurī Marae and meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāti Ira and Ngāti Kahukuranui.

In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade 29 Ngāti Porou marae, including Te Rawheoro Marae, Hauiti Marae, Puketawai Marae and Hinemaurea ki Mangatuna Marae. The funding was expected to create 205 jobs.{{cite web |title=Marae Announcements |url=https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |website=growregions.govt.nz |publisher=Provincial Growth Fund |format=Excel |date=9 October 2020}}

Tolaga Bay Area School is a Year 1–15 state area school{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=212 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|212|y}}.{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28®ion=5&school=212 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mangatuna is a Year 1–8 Māori immersion school{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=2600 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2600|y}}{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28®ion=5&school=2600 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}

Both schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• [http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nztolagabay/ "Tolaga Bay History" personal site]
• [http://www.gisbornenz.com/default.asp?id=25 "Gisborne & Eastland"]
• [http://www.gdc.govt.nz/tolaga-bay-blue-waters/ Gisborne District Council]

{{Gisborne District}}

Category:Bays of the Gisborne District

Category:Populated places in the Gisborne District