Kawerau
Kawerau | |
|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Kawerau District |
| Established | 1953 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Malcolm J Campbell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.94 km2 (8.47 sq mi) |
| Population (2006 census) | |
| • Total | 6,921 |
| • Density | 320/km2 (820/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 3127 |
| Area code | 07 |
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.[1] 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.
History
Kawerau is one of the youngest towns in New Zealand. It was founded in 1953 as a mill town 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.[2] 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.
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 European 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.[3]
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.[4]
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[5].
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.
Climate
During summer (December to February), the average daily maximum temperature in Kawerau is 23.7 Celcius. In January 2008, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celcius 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 degrees Celsius.[6]
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.
National Woodskills Festival
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 annual festival attracts hundreds of visitors from around the country making it the town's largest event and largest money earner after the Norske Skog Tasman mill. As well as the Woodskills Festival there is an Arts & Crafts Festival with displays open on Saturday and Sunday at various venues around Kawerau.
See also
References
External links