Kawerau, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Kawerau is a town
in the Bay of Plenty
region of the North Island
of New Zealand
. The town is situated 100 km south-east of Tauranga
and 58 km east of Rotorua
. It is the seat of, and the sole town in, the Kawerau District Council.
Kawerau is a small community, with the main industry being the nearby Norske Skog Tasman pulp and paper mill
. 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 was also one of the worst-affected towns in the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake
.
for the new Tasman pulp and paper mill. The site for the mill was chosen because of the ready availability of geothermal energy, water from the Tarawera River
and the large supply of pine timber from the nearby Kaingaroa forest. Unlike most other towns of its size, Kawerau was carefully planned before construction. 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 associated industries.
ethnic group. 61.1% of people (4,047) in the Kawerau District said they belong to the Māori ethnic group. The population of the Kawerau District contains a smaller proportion of Pacific Island
peoples (3.8%) and smaller proportion of Asian people
(1.8%) compared with the whole of New Zealand.
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.
The District has a land area of 21.9357 km² (8.4694 sq mi), making it the smallest territorial authority
in New Zealand in terms of land area. It is completely surrounded by the Whakatane
District.
Rainfall is spread throughout the year, though it is not uncommon to experience a drought during summer.
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.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
region of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The town is situated 100 km south-east of Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
and 58 km east of Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
. It is the seat of, and the sole town in, the Kawerau District Council.
Kawerau is a small community, with the main industry being the nearby Norske Skog Tasman pulp and paper mill
Tasman Mill
The Tasman Mill is a pulp and paper mill located just outside the town of Kawerau in New Zealand. Tasman Mill is the largest single in employer in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region. Three separate companies operate within Tasman including Norske Skog, who operate the paper mill, Carter Holt Harvey,...
. It is located along State Highway 34 southwest of Onepu
Onepu
Onepu is a small locality in the Bay of Plenty Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Onepu is situated between Kawerau and Te Teko along State Highway 34, and lies immediately north-east of the Norske Skog Tasman pulp and paper mill. The locality also lies on the Murupara Branch railway. Onepu...
, and is the terminus of the East Coast Main Trunk Railway and the commencing point of the Murupara Branch railway. Kawerau was also one of the worst-affected towns in the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake
1987 Edgecumbe earthquake
The Edgecumbe earthquake of 1987 was an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale that struck the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand on 2 March 1987 just after 1.42 pm, centred on the town of Edgecumbe. The earthquake was very shallow, being centred approximately 8 km from the Earth's...
.
History
Kawerau is one of the youngest towns in New Zealand. It was founded in 1953 as a mill townMill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
for the new Tasman pulp and paper mill. The site for the mill was chosen because of the ready availability of geothermal energy, water from the Tarawera River
Tarawera River
The Tarawera River is in the Bay of Plenty Region in the North Island of New Zealand.It flows from Lake Tarawera, northeastwards across the northern flanks of the active volcano Mount Tarawera, and past the town of Kawerau before turning north, reaching the Bay of Plenty six kilometres to the west...
and the large supply of pine timber from the nearby Kaingaroa forest. Unlike most other towns of its size, Kawerau was carefully planned before construction. 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 associated industries.
Demographics
The total population of the Kawerau District was 6,921 at the time of the 2006 census. 47.4% of people (3,144) in the Kawerau District said they belong to the EuropeanNew Zealand European
The term New Zealand European refers to New Zealanders of European descent who identify as New Zealand Europeans rather than some other ethnic group...
ethnic group. 61.1% of people (4,047) in the Kawerau District said they belong to the Māori ethnic group. The population of the Kawerau District contains a smaller proportion of Pacific Island
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
peoples (3.8%) and smaller proportion of Asian people
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
(1.8%) compared with the whole of New Zealand.
Geography
The 820 m volcanic cone of Mount Edgecumbe/Putauaki lies 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.Kawerau has access to vast geothermal resources. There are a number of geothermal hot springs
Hot Springs
Hot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
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.
The District has a land area of 21.9357 km² (8.4694 sq mi), making it the smallest territorial authority
Territorial authorities of New Zealand
Territorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. There are 67 territorial authorities: 13 city councils, 53 district councils, and the Chatham Islands Council...
in New Zealand in terms of land area. It is completely surrounded by the Whakatane
Whakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
District.
Climate
During summer (December to February), the average daily maximum temperature in Kawerau is 23.7 °C. In January 2008, the temperature exceeded 30 °C on 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.Rainfall is spread throughout the year, though it is not uncommon to experience a drought during summer.
Events
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 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.
Notable residents
- John RowlesJohn RowlesJohn Edward Rowles OBE is a New Zealand singer. He was most popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, and most famous for his song Cheryl Moana Marie, which he had written about his kid sister back home in New Zealand.Rowles is part Māori. His father, Eddie Hohapata Rowles, played for the 1938 Māori...
: New Zealand singer - Ria van DykeRia van DykeRia van Dyke was born on February 16, 1989 and is an international model. She is best known as the first New Zealander to represent the Face of beauty and cosmetic brand INNOXA and as beauty pageant title holder Miss Universe New Zealand 2010...
: Miss New Zealand 2010 - Sarah WalkerSarah Walker (BMX rider)Sarah Walker is a BMX racer who was born in Whakatane, New Zealand, currently residing in Kawerau, New Zealand. She started BMXing in 1999 when she saw her brother, Matt, riding one day . And she has made her career from there ever since....
: Women's BMX world champion - Danielle HayesDanielle HayesDanielle Hayes, is a New Zealand fashion model, best known for being the winner of cycle 2 of the series New Zealand's Next Top Model, Cycle 2 in 2010...
: Winner, Cycle 2. New Zealand's Next Top Model.