Awakeri

Awakeri
Town
Coordinates: 38°00′S 176°54′E / 38.000°S 176.900°E / -38.000; 176.900
Country	New Zealand
Region	Bay of Plenty
Territorial authority	Whakatāne District
Ward	Rangitāiki

Droving sheep near Awakeri, 1924

Awakeri is a village located southwest of Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in a farming and fruit-growing area, has basic amenities and a primary school for students aged 5 to 13, and is best known for nearby hot springs.

Awakeri is located at the junction of State Highways 2 and 30 on the route of SH 2 from Edgecumbe to Taneatua and the route of SH 30 from Whakatane to Te Teko, and the two highways run together briefly through the village.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "ditch" or "trench" for Awakeri.^[1]

The Taneatua Branch railway line also passes through the town, it was disused, however a tourist rail operator has recently leased a section of the branch line from Kiwi Rail and is opening a rail cart operation. Passenger train services ran through Awakeri and were provided by the Taneatua Express train from 1928 until 7 February 1959, when the steam-hauled carriage train was replaced by an 88-seater railcar service that terminated before Awakeri, in Te Puke. A private railway operated by the CHH Whakatane Mill used to run from Awakeri station to the mill at Whakatane. The line (now closed and lifted) used to run alongside State Highway 30, including along the front of the petrol station forecourt at Awakeri.

Demographics[]

The statistical area of Thornton-Awakeri, which is 152 square kilometres and also includes Thornton, had a population of 2,289 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 174 people (8.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 273 people (13.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 756 households. There were 1,167 males and 1,122 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 41.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 486 people (21.2%) aged under 15 years, 396 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,059 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 348 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.6% European/Pākehā, 34.2% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 1.6% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 8.7%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 56.6% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, 0.1% were Buddhist and 6.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 237 (13.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 348 (19.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 942 (52.2%) people were employed full-time, 312 (17.3%) were part-time, and 63 (3.5%) were unemployed.^[2]

Sports[]

The Awakeri Football Club is based at the school, with football the dominant sport.^[3]

Education[]

Awakeri School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[4][5] with a roll of 332 as of November 2021.^[6]

References[]

Coordinates: 38°00′S 176°54′E / 38.000°S 176.900°E / -38.000; 176.900