Kawakawa, New Zealand

Town in Northland, New Zealand

Place in Northland Region, New Zealand

Kawakawa

The main street of Kawakawa

Motto:

Train Town

Coordinates: 35°22′48″S 174°4′8″E﻿ / ﻿35.38000°S 174.06889°E﻿ / -35.38000; 174.06889
Country| New Zealand
Region| Northland Region
District| Far North District
Ward| Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward
Community| Bay of Islands-Whangaroa
Subdivision| Kawakawa-Moerewa
Electorates|

* Northland
* Te Tai Tokerau

Government

• Territorial Authority| Far North District Council
• Regional council| Northland Regional Council
• Mayor of Far North| Moko Tepania[1]
• Northland MP| Grant McCallum[2]
• Te Tai Tokerau MP| Mariameno Kapa-Kingi[3]
Area

[4]

• Total

| 1.73 km2 (0.67 sq mi)
Population

(June 2024)[5]

• Total

| 1,630
• Density| 940/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Postcode(s)|

0210

Kawakawa is a small town in the Bay of Islands area of the Northland Region of New Zealand. Kawakawa developed as a service town when coal was found there in the 1860s, but coal mining ceased in the early 20th century. The economy is now based on farming.[6] The town is named after the kawakawa shrub.[7]

## History

[edit]

In 1859, Maihi Paraone Kawiti petitioned Governor Thomas Gore Browne for European settlers to establish a town in the area. Browne was pleased at Kawiti's offer but preferred for Kerikeri to be developed instead. Two years later, coal was discovered and after tests found it to be of the highest quality the government purchased 24,000 acres (9,700 ha) from local Māori. The town of Kawakawa was built around the coal mines[8][6] A horse-drawn tramway was opened in 1868 to carry coal from the mines to the Taumarere wharf. In 1871 two steam locomotives were acquired and the tramway was upgraded to railway standard. In 1884 a railway line from Kawakawa to Opua was opened, and this replaced the line to Taumarere wharf. The area was a location for the late 19th/early 20th century kauri gum digging trade.[9]

By 1899 there were over 300 residents in the town,[10] which was built mainly on the hillside near the coalmine.[11][better source needed] In March 1899 a fire destroyed many of the buildings.[12] The town was rebuilt on the flat, alongside the railway tracks.[13] The present railway station was opened in 1911 on the line to Moerewa, at the junction with the mine branch.[14]

A railway line south to Whangārei was completed in 1911. Coal mining ceased at Kawakawa in the early 20th century due to the mines flooding. Since the closure the main economic activities are farming and tourism.[15][8]

The Bay of Islands County headquarters were in Kawakawa[6] until the county was disestablished in 1989.

## Demographics

[edit]

Kawakawa covers 1.73 km2 (0.67 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 1,630 as of June 2024,[5] with a population density of 942 people per km2.

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

|
|

2006| 1,326| —
2013| 1,215| −1.24%
2018| 1,464| +3.80%
2023| 1,482| +0.24%
Source: [16][17]

Kawakawa had a population of 1,482 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (1.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 267 people (22.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 729 males, 750 females and 6 people of other genders in 465 dwellings.[18] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 363 people (24.5%) aged under 15 years, 276 (18.6%) aged 15 to 29, 660 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 177 (11.9%) aged 65 or older.[17]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 45.3% European (Pākehā), 71.1% Māori, 6.9% Pasifika, 5.7% Asian, and 1.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori language by 26.9%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 6.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 32.2% Christian, 2.0% Hindu, 1.0% Islam, 5.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.2%, and 5.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 120 (10.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 663 (59.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 306 (27.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 48 people (4.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 549 (49.1%) people were employed full-time, 132 (11.8%) were part-time, and 78 (7.0%) were unemployed.[17]

## Features

[edit]

Entrance to the Hundertwasser toilet building

The town is known as "Train Town", because the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway runs down the middle of its main street on the former Opua Branch railway line. 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of the 17 kilometres (11 mi) track reopened in 2008.[19] Pou Herenga Tai – Twin Coast Cycle Trail follows part of the railway.

The town is also famous for its Hundertwasser toilet block, designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who was a resident of the town from 1975 until his death in 2000.[20]

The Kawiti glowworm caves at nearby Waiomio are also an attraction.[21]

### Marae

[edit]

Kawakawa has four marae affiliated with hapū of Ngāpuhi, all based approximately 5 km south of the township in Waiomio. Mohinui Marae and its Hohourongo meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Hine and Ngāti Kahu o Torongare. Kawiti Marae and Te Tawai Riri Maihi Kawiti meeting house, Miria Marae and Te Rapunga meeting house and Te Kotahitanga and its meeting house of the same name are also connected to Ngāti Hine.[22][23][non-tertiary source needed]

In October 2020, the Government committed $297,133 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Mohinui Marae, creating 3 jobs. It also committed $168,084 to upgrade Miria Marae, creating 14 jobs.[24][25][non-primary source needed]

## Education

[edit]

Kawakawa Primary School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 225 students.[26]

Bay of Islands College is a secondary (years 9–13) school with a roll of 511 students.[27] It takes students from around the Bay of Islands and middle Northland, with 85% of its students travelling daily by bus to attend.[28]

Te Mirumiru Early Childhood Education Centre, adjacent to the Kawakawa Office, includes bilingual units teaching in Māori language.

Te Kohanga Reo o Kawakawa, a whanau driven, early childhood centre immersed in the maori language

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of March 2025.[29]

Karetu School is located nearby, in Karetu.

## Notable people

[edit]

* Terryann Clark – professor
* Kelvin Davis – politician
* Jack Goodhue – rugby player
* Pita Paraone – politician
* Willow-Jean Prime – politician
* Joe Schmidt – rugby coach
* Noma Shepherd – community leader
* Telusa Veainu – rugby player

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mayor and Councillors". Far North District Council. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
2. ^ "Northland – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
3. ^ "Te Tai Tokerau – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
4. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
5. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
6. ^ a b c "Northland places – The Waiōmio valley". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
7. ^ "Kawakawa, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
8. ^ a b Edwards, Bill (4 April 2023). "Hundertwasser Public Toilets". Heritage New Zealand.
9. ^ Hayward, Bruce W. (1989). Kauri Gum and the Gumdiggers. The Bush Press. p. 4\. ISBN 0-908608-39-X.
10. ^ "THE NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEAR-BOOK 1898". www3.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
11. ^ "Our history". Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
12. ^ "Fires. Auckland Star". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 16 March 1899. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
13. ^ "Kawakawa, Northland". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
14. ^ "Towai-Kawakawa Railway Section. Northern Advocate". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 15 April 1911. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
15. ^ "Northland Railways | Engineering New Zealand". www.engineeringnz.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
16. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kawakawa (104600). 2018 Census place summary: Kawakawa
17. ^ a b c "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Kawakawa (1037). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
18. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
19. ^ "Kawakawa Travel Guide". Jasons Travel Media.
20. ^ Nelmes Bissett, Amy (4 February 2019). "Toilet tourism: Hundertwasser's Kawakawa throne is flush with visitors". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
21. ^ "Tourism enterprises in new indigenous tourism TV show". The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
22. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
23. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
24. ^ "Upgrade of 51 Hawke's Bay marae could create 260 jobs in region". The New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
25. ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
26. ^ Education Counts: Kawakawa Primary school
27. ^ Education Counts: Bay of Islands College
28. ^ "Bay of Islands College – School Information". Archived from the original on 8 August 2007.
29. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kawakawa.

* Bay of Islands College

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

* v
* t
* e

Far North District, New Zealand

Seat: Kaikohe

Populated places|

| Te Hiku|

* Ahipara
* Awanui
* Henderson Bay
* Herekino
* Hihi
* Houhora
* Kaimaumau
* Kaingaroa
* Kaitaia
* Karikari Peninsula
* Ngataki
* Ninety Mile Beach
* Oruaiti
* Oruru
* Pamapuria
* Paparore
* Parengarenga Harbour
* Peria
* Piwhane / Spirits Bay
* Pukenui
* Pukepoto
* Taipa-Mangonui

* Taipa
* Cable Bay
* Coopers Beach
* Mangōnui

* Takahue
* Te Hāpua
* Te Kao
* Tokerau Beach
* Unahi
* Waiharara
* Waimahana Bay
* Waipapakauri
* Waitiki Landing
* Whatuwhiwhi
* Whangape

|

Bay of Islands/Whangaroa|

* Cape Brett Peninsula
* Haruru
* Kaeo
* Kapiro
* Karetu
* Kawakawa
* Kerikeri
* Kerikeri Inlet
* Lake Manuwai
* Matauri Bay
* Maromaku
* Moerewa
* Motatau
* Okiato
* Oromahoe
* Opua
* Otiria
* Paihia
* Pakaraka
* Puketona
* Puketotara
* Purerua
* Rangihoua Bay
* Rangitane
* Rawhiti
* Russell
* Tākou Bay
* Saies
* Taronui Bay
* Taumarere
* Taupō Bay
* Te Haumi
* Te Tii
* Totara North
* Towai
* Waikare
* Waipapa
* Waitangi
* Waitaruke
* Whangaroa

Kaikohe/Hokianga|

* Broadwood
* Horeke
* Kaikohe
* Kohukohu
* Mangamuka
* Matihetihe
* Mitimiti
* Ngawha Springs
* Ōhaeawai
* Ōkaihau
* Omanaia
* Ōmāpere
* Opononi
* Ōtaua
* Panguru
* Pawarenga
* Rangiahua
* Rawene
* Tautoro
* Umawera
* Waimā
* Waimate North
* Whirinaki

Geographic features|

| Bays|

* Doubtless
* Great Exhibition
* Henderson
* Rangihoua
* Waimahana

|

Islands|

* Aroha Island
* Cavalli Islands
* Simmonds Islands
* Motukawanui Island
* Motukokako / Piercy Island
* Urupukapuka Island

Lakes|

* Big
* Bulrush Lake
* Half
* Half Mile Lagoon
* Heather
* Kaiwai
* Kihona
* Manuwai
* Morehurehu
* Ngakapua
* Ngakeketa
* Ngatu
* Lake Ōmāpere
* Owhareiti
* Puhau
* Rotokawau (Aupōuri)
* Rotokawau (Karikari)
* Rotokereru
* Rotomata
* Rotopokaka
* Rotoroa
* Salt
* Split
* Swan
* Taeore
* Tairutu
* Tauanui
* Te Kahika
* Wahakari
* Waihopo
* Waikanae
* Waikaramu
* Waimimiha
* Waingaro
* Waiparera
* Waiporohita
* Waitahora
* Whirirau

Landforms|

* Aupōuri Peninsula
* Cape Brett Peninsula
* Cape Maria van Diemen
* Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua
* Horeke basalts
* Kaikohe-Bay of Islands volcanic field
* Kaikohe Hill
* Kaimaumau wetland
* Karikari Peninsula
* Maungataniwha Range
* Maungaturoto
* Ngawha geothermal field
* North Cape
* Purerua Peninsula
* Parengarenga Harbour
* Rainbow Falls / Waianiwaniwa
* Runaruna Mud Volcano
* Tarahi
* Te Paki Sand Dunes
* Te Puke
* Whangape Harbour
* Whangaroa Harbour

Facilities and attractions|

* Bay of Islands Vintage Railway
* Butler Point Whaling Museum
* Cape Brett Lighthouse
* Cape Reinga Lighthouse
* Christ Church, Russell
* Eagles Nest
* Excitor
* Kaikohe Aerodrome
* Kerikeri Airport
* Māngungu Mission
* Mission House
* Okaihau Railway Branch
* Opua Railway Branch
* RNZAF Station Waipapakauri
* Pompallier House
* St. James Church
* Stone Store
* Tāne Mahuta
* Treaty House
* Wairere Boulders
* Waitangi Treaty Monument

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Organisations|

* Muriwhenua
* Ngāi Takoto
* Northland College

History|

* Arthur's Stone
* Battle of Ohaeawai
* Boyd massacre
* Dog Tax War
* Opo the dolphin
* Te Waimate mission

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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