Awatoto

Awatoto
Suburb
Country	New Zealand
City	Napier
Population  (2013)
• Total	309

Maraenui	Te Awa	Hawke Bay
Meeanee	Awatoto	Hawke Bay
Pakowhai	Clive	Hawke Bay

Awatoto is a coastal suburb area located near Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "stream for hauling canoes" for Awatōtō.

Awatoto had a population of 309 at the 2013 New Zealand census, a decrease of 48 people since the 2006 census. There were 153 males and 156 females. 83.2% were European/Pākehā, 23.2% were Māori, 1.1% were Pacific peoples and 4.2% were Asian.

History

Settlement of the area dates from the late 1800s, although population was minimal until the post-war years. Meeanee developed as a small settlement in the 1940s and 1950s, servicing the surrounding dairy farms. The population increased from the mid-1990s, a result of new dwellings being added to the area.

Geography

Awatoto is located approximately 5 km south of the Napier city centre at 39°S 176°E, on the coast of Hawke's Bay, on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. State Highway 2 passes through Awatoto along the coastline on its way towards Napier from Hastings.

Suburb

Awatoto is partly an industrial area. Paua Fresh Ltd is an abalone farm in Awatoto, Napier. The facility is currently producing 6,000 kg annually, and sells live abalone throughout New Zealand, and can also supply frozen product if requested. The coast at Awatoto is mostly used for fishing. Water activities do take place at the Awatoto river mouth just south of the industrial area, where the Clive, Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri Rivers meet the sea. Awatoto is the site of water extraction and bottling.