Wairoa

The Wairoa District is one of five districts, which are the Hawke 's Bay region on the North Island of New Zealand assigned in whole or in part. The district was named after the town of Wairoa, which simultaneously represents also the economic center of the district as an administrative capital and roughly half of the inhabitants is.

Geography

The Wairoa district is 4116 km2 with the second largest district in the Hawke 's Bay region. In the northeast of Gisborne district borders in the north of Whakatane District, west of the Taupo district, in the southwest of the Hastings District. The South has its limitation by the coastline of Hawke Bay and the East with the Mahia Peninsula by the Pacific Ocean.

The largest rivers that flow through the district include from West to East listed the Mohaka River, which Waihua River, the Waiau River, which Waikaretaheke River, the Wairoa River, which Ruakituri River and the Nuhaka River.

The largest lake represents Lake Waikaremoana, which arose after an earthquake by a landslide good 2200 years ago and has accumulated on the Waikaretaheke River. North-east of there is the much smaller Lake Waikareiti. Another waters located on the coast and is known as Whakaki Lagoon.

The highest mountains are all around the Lake Waikaremoana and are listed clockwise starting south, the Pukenui with 1177 m, the Whakataka with 1252 m, the Manuhoa with 1403 m and the last Maungapuhato with 1366 m height.

The southern part of Te Urewera National Park is also located in the district area.

Transport links

Due to the district two State Highways, the SH 2 of Napier lead coming over, outgoing Wairoa to Gisborne and the SH 38 from Wairoa to Lake Waikaremoana and then continue as unpaved main road towards Rotorua. Another road connects with Wairoa Gisborne and performs as a country road through the mountains via Te Reinga. There is a rail link for freight transport, which leads via Wairoa between Gisborne and Napier. The only airport in the district is located a few kilometers west of Wairoa, and has a 910 m long concrete runway on the aircraft up to a span of 30 meters, can take off and land. The compounds were the once by sea via Wairoa, were no longer maintained because of the ever-changing river mouth of the Wairoa River.

Population

In District 2006 8481 inhabitants were counted for Census, half of them in Wairoa. Thus, the Wairoa District reported a decrease in the population of 4.9% compared to the census of 2001. Slightly more than 56 % of the population are Māori, the group recorded a decrease of 2.1 % compared to 2001. 30.9% of Māori spoke the Maori language in 2006 yet. The unemployment rate was 6.7% in the same year with slightly above the national average of 5.1%.

Economy

With an average household income of around 20,000 NZ $ NZ $ 4400, the district is below the national average. However, almost 50 % of the population have less than NZ $ 20,000 income per year. Thus, the Wairoa district counts with one of the poorer districts of New Zealand. The main occupation is still farming. Approximately 60 % of the district area is used productively. Of this alone 48% are used as pasture. The forestry sector is trying to develop. Tourism is compared with other areas of New Zealand under-developed. The tourist attractions are the Te Urewera National Park and Lake Waikaremoana and especially the Mahia Peninsula, with water sports, fishing and long sandy beaches.

In the northern part of the district's natural gas reserves have been found. It is hoped that in an economic exploitation to cover a portion of the energy supply of the district with the gas. The explorations are not yet complete.

Swell

• Wairoa District Council - Homepage
• LINZ topographic maps - Land Information New Zealand - ( accessed on February 16, 2010)