Awarua Plains

Plain in New Zealand

Awarua Plain (top), Tiwai Point (centre) and Bluff (lower left) viewed from the International Space Station in 2008.

The Awarua Plain is a large area of wetland to the east of Bluff, New Zealand.[1] Covering an area of around 600 km², the plain stretches for 35 kilometres along the coast of Foveaux Strait. This stretch of coast includes the peninsula of Tiwai Point, Awarua Bay, the Waituna Lagoon, and Toetoes Bay. The Mataura River is the major river responsible for the presence of the Awarua Plain; along with the Ōreti River, it is a remnant of the rivers from the Ice Ages that formed the Southland Plains (Murihiku). In addition, several small streams enter Foveaux Strait along this stretch of coast, mainly via Awarua Bay and Waituna Lagoon.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "two streams" for Awarua.[2]

## Demographics

[edit]

The Awarua Plains statistical area covers 409.10 km2 (157.95 sq mi)[3] within Southland District. It had an estimated population of 1,180 as of June 2024,[4] with a population density of 2.9 people per km2.

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 963| —
2013| 1,026| +0.91%
2018| 1,020| −0.12%
Source: [5]

Awarua Plains had a population of 1,020 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−0.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (5.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 360 households, comprising 531 males and 489 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 32.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 267 people (26.2%) aged under 15 years, 195 (19.1%) aged 15 to 29, 471 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 87 (8.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 81.5% European/Pākehā, 13.2% Māori, 1.8% Pasifika, 11.8% Asian, and 3.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 17.1, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.2% had no religion, 39.7% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.9% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 117 (15.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 150 (19.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $40,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 120 people (15.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 462 (61.4%) people were employed full-time, 150 (19.9%) were part-time, and 15 (2.0%) were unemployed.[5]

## Radio facilities

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The Awarua Plain is suitable for radio facilities, due to low distant skylines, high ground conductivity[citation needed] and distance from sources of radio interference.[6][7] An expedition seeking 'an extensive area of flat lands [producing] the best results' first scouted the area for radio purposes in 1911.[8]

Radio-related facilities here are:

* Unwin Radar of La Trobe University
* Awarua Tracking Station of the European Space Agency

### Awarua Radio

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Awarua Radio (callsign VLB or ZLB) was New Zealand's main receiving and transmitting coast radio station providing worldwide radiotelegraph and voice communications with ships at sea. Some facilities were built by Telefunken of Germany. It was operated from 18 December 1913 by the New Zealand Post Office (to 31 March 1986) then by NZPO successor corporation Telecom New Zealand until the station closed on 30 August 1991.[9]

The site was selected following an expedition in 1911 led by Mr J Orchiston, head of the New Zealand Telegraph Department, Captain Gard'ner of the New Zealand Artillery and representatives of AWA, seeking 'an extensive area of flat lands [producing] the best results'.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Place name detail: Awarua Plains". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
2. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
3. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
4. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Awarua Plains (359400). 2018 Census place summary: Awarua Plains
6. ^ NZ space link seen as a showcase for satellite imaging Archived 18 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine by NZPA, retrieved from Yahoo News website on 2011-02-15
7. ^ Unwin Radar Archived 18 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine on Venture Southland website, retrieved 2011-04-12
8. ^ a b The Otago Daily Times, 1911-04-03, republished in 'Tea party in the Antarctic' on Otago Daily Times website, 2011-04-03
9. ^ Awarua Radio VLB - ZLB

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Mataura River

Source: Eyre Mountains—Flows into: Foveaux Strait

Administrative areas|

* Southland Region

Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream)|

* Fairlight
* Athol
* Garston
* Mandeville
* Gore
* Mataura
* Wyndham
* Menzies Ferry
* Mataura Island
* Fortrose

Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence)|

* Nokomai River
* Waikaia River
* Mokoreta River

Other features (upstream to downstream)|

* Awarua Plains
* Toetoes Bay

Longest New Zealand rivers|

* 1: Waikato
* 2: Clutha / Mata-Au
* 3: Whanganui
* 4: Taieri
* 5: Rangitīkei
* 6: Mataura
* 7: Waiau
* 8: Waiau Toa / Clarence
* 9: Waitaki
* 10: Ōreti
* 11: Rangitaiki
* 12: Manawatū

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Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand

Seat: Invercargill Central

Populated places|

| Invercargill City|

* Appleby
* Ascot
* Avenal
* Clifton
* Georgetown
* Gladstone
* Glengarry
* Grasmere
* Hargest
* Hawthorndale
* Heidelberg
* Invercargill Central
* Kew
* Kingswell
* Newfield
* Prestonville
* Richmond
* Rockdale
* Rosedale
* Strathern
* Waihopai
* Waverley
* West Invercargill
* Windsor

|

Outer Invercargill|

* Bluff
* Lorneville
* Otatara
* Waikiwi
* Awarua
* Awarua Plains
* Greenhills
* Greenpoint
* Kennington
* Mill Road
* Motu Rimu
* Myross Bush
* Ocean Beach
* Omaui
* Oreti Beach
* Sandy Point
* Seaward Bush
* Taramoa
* Tisbury
* Tiwai Point
* Underwood
* West Plains
* Waimatua
* Woodend

Geographic features|

* Bluff Harbour
* Ocean Beach
* Stirling Point

Facilities and attractions|

* Anderson Park
* Bill Richardson Transport World
* Bluff Maritime Museum
* Civic Theatre
* Classic Motorcycle Mecca
* Dawson Farm Aerodrome
* E Hayes and Sons
* Invercargill Airport
* Invercargill Brewery
* Invercargill Central Mall
* Invercargill Golf Club
* SIT Zero Fees Velodrome
* Paua House
* Public transport
* Queens Park
* Rugby Park Stadium
* ILT Stadium Southland
* St. Mary's Basilica
* Southland Museum and Art Gallery
* Surrey Park
* Te Tomairangi Marae
* Teretonga Park
* Turnbull Thomson Park
* Waverley Park

Government|

* City Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Education|

* Aurora College
* James Hargest College
* Southern Institute of Technology
* Southland Boys' High School
* Southland Girls' High School
* Te Wharekura o Arowhenua
* Verdon College
* Windsor North School

Organisations|

* 4ZA
* Foveaux FM
* H & J Smith
* Invercargill Licensing Trust
* Southland Astronomical Society
* Southland Times
* Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter
* Transport World

46°31′41″S 168°28′54″E﻿ / ﻿46.5281°S 168.4816°E﻿ / -46.5281; 168.4816
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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