Waikawau

Waikawau is a rural community in the Waitomo District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, beside Waikawau River.[1]

There are also small settlements of the same name on both the west[2] and east[3] coasts of Coromandel.

Waikawau is astride meshblocks 1016301 and 1016400, which had 51 people, living in 21 houses, in 2013 over the wider area.[4]

It features the only publicly accessible beach between Marokopa and Awakino. The only way to access the beach is through a walking track and farming tunnel,[5] which was dug through sandstone cliffs by three men in 1911.[6]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "water of the shag" for Waikawau.[7]

The area has been a popular spot for freedom camping during whitebait season and summer.[8] Signs were put in place in 2015, advising visitors it is illegal to camp on private land.[9]

Dracophyllum strictum grows extensively in the area.[10]

Education

Whareorino School is a co-educational state primary school,[11] with a roll of 5 as of November 2024.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Waikawau, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  2. ^ "Waikawau, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Waikawau, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  4. ^ "2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place". archive.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Waitomo Walks" (PDF). waitomo.govt.nz. Waitomo District Council.
  6. ^ Pollock, Kerryn. "Waikawau tunnel and beach". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  7. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  8. ^ Nyika, Ruby (4 November 2018). "Crackdown on freedom camping in Waitomo ahead of summer". Stuff. Waikato Times.
  9. ^ Tucker, Jim (6 August 2015). "Camper ban on whitebait fans". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald.
  10. ^ Winder, Virginia (2 May 2014). "Rich in love and laughs". Stuff. Taranaki Daily News.
  11. ^ Education Counts: Whareorino School
  12. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  13. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

38°28′20″S 174°40′50″E / 38.472340°S 174.680632°E / -38.472340; 174.680632


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