Kawerau

History and culture

European settlement

Kawerau, one of the youngest towns in New Zealand, was founded in 1953 as a mill town for the new Tasman pulp and paper mill. The site for the mill was chosen by the Tasman Pulp and Paper Company 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. The town site was chosen in February 1953.

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 of associated industries.

Recent history

In 2012, mill owner Norske Skog said it would be shutting one of the two newsprint machines at the mill. In January 2013, it was confirmed nearly half the mill's jobs would be lost.

Norse Skog of Norway, which is the world's second-biggest producer of newsprint, confirmed the closure of one of its two paper machines at the Tasman Mill at Kawerau with the loss of 110 jobs. The company first announced its intention to shut one machine last September, following a review of its newsprint capacity in Australasia. The remaining Tasman machine would continue to produce newsprint, predominantly for the New Zealand and Australian markets. Norske Skog management would work closely with employees, unions and other stakeholders on the detailed closure arrangements, including a mill-wide restructuring programme. Peter McCartey, General Manager of Tasman Mill said it was widely understood the decision had been brought about by global market forces within the industry. The second paper machine had operated successfully for over 50 years. Norske Skog has the widest geographical spread of all the paper producers, with mills in 11 countries on all continents except Africa and Antarctica.

As of July 16, 2021, all of the three newsprint paper machines have ceased operation due to less demand as the world is going digital.

Kawerau is also home to geothermal power supply Kawerau Power Station for the local industry as well as the rest of New Zealand.

Marae

The local marae, Tohia o te Rangi, is affiliated with the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāi Tamarangi. It features the Waitaha Ariki Kore meeting house.

Demographics

Kawerau District covers 23.56 km2. Stats NZ describes it as a small urban area. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Kawerau District had a population of 7,539 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 393 people (5.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,176 people (18.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,720 males, 3,804 females, and 15 people of other genders in 2,418 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,680 people (22.3%) aged under 15 years, 1,332 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,994 (39.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,527 (20.3%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 53.8% European (Pākehā); 63.2% Māori; 4.7% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori by 18.3%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 3.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 26.7% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 9.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.4%, and 9.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 513 (8.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,549 (60.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,794 (30.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 249 people (4.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,220 (37.9%) full-time, 609 (10.4%) part-time, and 480 (8.2%) unemployed.

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 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 23.56 km2, making it the smallest territorial authority in New Zealand in terms of land area. It is completely surrounded by the Whakatāne District.

Climate

In January 2008, the temperature exceeded 30 °C for 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.

|Jan record high C = 37.0 |Feb record high C = 35.6 |Mar record high C = 32.1 |Apr record high C = 29.7 |May record high C = 24.8 |Jun record high C = 22.1 |Jul record high C = 21.1 |Aug record high C = 22.0 |Sep record high C = 26.0 |Oct record high C = 28.8 |Nov record high C = 34.6 |Dec record high C = 34.8 |year record high C = 37.0 |Jan record low C = 3.7 |Feb record low C = 3.1 |Mar record low C = 1.0 |Apr record low C = -3.3 |May record low C = -4.2 |Jun record low C = -4.0 |Jul record low C = -4.4 |Aug record low C = -4.3 |Sep record low C = -1.4 |Oct record low C = -2.1 |Nov record low C = 0.7 |Dec record low C = 2.0 |year record low C = -4.4 |access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web |access-date = 10 Sep 2024}}{{cite web |access-date = 16 Jan 2025}}

| Jan record high C = 33.4 | Feb record high C = 34.6 | Mar record high C = 29.8 | Apr record high C = 27.3 | May record high C = 22.5 | Jun record high C = 22.3 | Jul record high C = 18.5 | Aug record high C = 19.5 | Sep record high C = 24.4 | Oct record high C = 29.4 | Nov record high C = 32.0 | Dec record high C = 29.6 | year record high C = | Jan avg record high C = 30.6 | Feb avg record high C = 30.2 | Mar avg record high C = 27.1 | Apr avg record high C = 24.5 | May avg record high C = 20.9 | Jun avg record high C = 18.8 | Jul avg record high C = 17.0 | Aug avg record high C = 18.2 | Sep avg record high C = 20.3 | Oct avg record high C = 24.3 | Nov avg record high C = 27.2 | Dec avg record high C = 28.5 | year avg record high C = 31.5 | Jan avg record low C = 4.7 | Feb avg record low C = 5.1 | Mar avg record low C = 2.8 | Apr avg record low C = 0.2 | May avg record low C = -2.4 | Jun avg record low C = -4.4 | Jul avg record low C = -4.3 | Aug avg record low C = -3.3 | Sep avg record low C = -2.4 | Oct avg record low C = -0.2 | Nov avg record low C = 1.7 | Dec avg record low C = 4.5 | year avg record low C = -5.3 |Jan record low C = 1.5 |Feb record low C = 1.6 |Mar record low C = -1.8 |Apr record low C = -2.0 |May record low C = -3.3 |Jun record low C = -7.6 |Jul record low C = -7.5 |Aug record low C = -5.7 |Sep record low C = -3.5 |Oct record low C = -2.1 |Nov record low C = -1.3 |Dec record low C = 1.5 |year record low C = |access-date = 9 Oct 2025}}

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 was a venue for the 2013 World Rafting Championships.

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.

Education

Kawerau has two state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Kawerau Pūtauaki School, with a roll of ; and Kawerau South School, with a roll of . Kawerau South opened in 1963.

Te Whata Tau o Pūtauaki is a Year 1 to 8 state primary school, with a roll of . It was formed by merging together Kawerau Central, Kawerau North and Kawerau Intermediate schools in 2011.

Tarawera High School is the town's Year 7 to 13 secondary school, with a roll of . Its predecessor Kawerau College opened in 1963. It became Tarawera High School in 2013 including Kawerau Intermediate. The Kawerau Teen Parent Unit is located in an old school house.

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of

Notable residents

• Danielle Hayes, model
• Gill Gatfield, sculptor
• John Rowles, singer
• Ria van Dyke, model
• Sarah Walker, Women's BMX world champion
• William Warbrick, rugby league player

References

References

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3. (27 November 1952). "N.Z. PAPER AND PULP MILLS". The Press.
4. "Kawerau District Council: Information".
5. (26 February 1953). "TASMAN PAPER PROJECT". The Press.
6. (12 September 1953). "TASMAN PULP INDUSTRY". The Press.
7. (January 9, 2013). "Kawerau paper mill job losses confirmed". Radio New Zealand.
8. (January 9, 2013). "Job losses confirmed at Kawerau mill". 3 News NZ.
9. Gray, Jamie. (2013-01-09). "Norse Skog Cuts 110 Jobs". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
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17. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer.
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21. [http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/geothermal_energy/nz_geothermal_fields.asp New Zealand Geothermal Association: Geothermal fields] {{webarchive. link. (2007-02-24)
22. [http://www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/aboutourdistrict/default.asp Kawerau District Council: About Our District] {{webarchive. link. (2016-06-15)
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29. "About Us". Kawerau South School.
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31. "Te Whata Tau o Putauaki Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
32. "History of Te Kura o Te Whata Tau ō Pūtauaki". Te Kura o Te Whata Tau ō Pūtauaki.
33. "Tarawera High School Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
34. "Tarawera High School Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
35. McKinnon, Malcolm. (1 August 2016). "Story: Bay of Plenty region — Government".
36. Kaye, Nikki. (29 July 2014). "$15.6m redevelopment of Tarawera High School begins". New Zealand Government.
37. "Kawerau Teen Parent Unit Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
38. "Kawerau Teen Parent Unit Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].