Riwaka (Māori: Riuwaka) is a small settlement in the Tasman District of New Zealand's South Island. It lies beside Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, five kilometres north of Motueka, and close to the mouth of the Riuwaka River. The land where the town is based was a swamp known as Tureauraki.[3] Europeans first settled in Riwaka in May 1842.[4] The Riwaka economy has been based around growing tobacco and hops.[5][6][7]
Riwaka
Riuwaka (Māori) | |
|---|---|
 The Riwaka Hotel | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 41°5′S 173°0′E / 41.083°S 173.000°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Territorial authority | Tasman |
| Ward | Motueka Ward |
| Community | Motueka Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Tasman District Council |
| • Mayor of Tasman | Tim King |
| • West Coast-Tasman MP | Maureen Pugh |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.49 km2 (2.12 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
• Total | 810 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (380/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC 12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC 13 (NZDT) |
| Area code | 03 |
Etymology
editThe settlement's name, Riwaka, is a corruption of the Māori name Riuwaka, which derives from riu meaning bilge or interior, and waka meaning canoe.[8] The name can be interpreted as the hull of the canoe.[9]
The name of the nearby river was officially altered from Riwaka River to Riuwaka River in August 2014,[10] following the Treaty of Waitangi settlements between the Crown and local iwi Ngāti Rārua and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui.
Demographics
editRiwaka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 5.49 km2 (2.12 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 810 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 148 people per km2. It is part of the larger Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area]].
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 630 | — |
| 2013 | 657 | 0.60% |
| 2018 | 765 | 3.09% |
| Source: [11] | ||
Riwaka had a population of 765 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 108 people (16.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 135 people (21.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 270 households, comprising 396 males and 372 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female, with 168 people (22.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 366 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (14.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.5% European/Pākehā, 14.1% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 66.3% had no religion, 21.2% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 96 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 114 (19.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 69 people (11.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 96 (16.1%) were part-time, and 12 (2.0%) were unemployed.[11]
Kaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area
editKaiteriteri-Riwaka statistical area, which also includes Mārahau and Kaiteriteri, covers 29.48 km2 (11.38 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,990 as of June 2024,[12] with a population density of 68 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,464 | — |
| 2013 | 1,539 | 0.72% |
| 2018 | 1,761 | 2.73% |
| Source: [13] | ||
Before the 2023 census, Kaiteriteri-Riwaka had a smaller boundary, covering 28.57 km2 (11.03 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, Kaiteriteri-Riwaka had a population of 1,761 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 222 people (14.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 297 people (20.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 591 households, comprising 915 males and 846 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 44.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 297 people (16.9%) aged under 15 years, 273 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 888 (50.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 306 (17.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 90.5% European/Pākehā, 10.4% Māori, 4.9% Pasifika, 1.4% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 23.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.5% had no religion, 26.1% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.5% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 240 (16.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 258 (17.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 162 people (11.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 747 (51.0%) people were employed full-time, 279 (19.1%) were part-time, and 36 (2.5%) were unemployed.[13]
Church
editThe Saint Barnabas Anglican church is located on Main Road, Riwaka.[14]
Education
editRiwaka School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[15][16] with a roll of 178 as of August 2024.[17] The school, opened in 1848, is one of the oldest schools in New Zealand.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Riwaka | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Wakefield's Memorial Riwaka and Puketawai Pā". www.theprow.org.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Hops, tobacco and hemp". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Riwaka | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Reaping The Harvest - Nelson Photo News - No 101 : April 5, 1969". photonews.org.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Place name detail: Riwaka". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board.
- ^ a b "Our History & Community". Riwaka School. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "NZGB decisions". Land Information New Zealand. August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7022557, 7022560–7022562 and 7022566.
- ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaiteriteri-Riwaka (300800). 2018 Census place summary: Kaiteriteri-Riwaka
- ^ "Motueka Anglican Parish | St Thomas, Motueka – St Barnabas, Riwaka Village Church – St James, Ngatimoti". Retrieved 26 January 2023.
- ^ "Riwaka School Official School Website". riwaka.school.nz.
- ^ "Riwaka School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Riwaka School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
