Atawhai
Township
Native nameAtawhai (Māori)
Coordinates41.237°S 173.317°E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionNelson
Ward
  • Central General Ward
  • Whakatū Māori Ward
Electorates
Territorial AuthorityNelson City Council
Unit prefMetric
Area total4.54 km²
Time zoneNZST (UTC+12)
Time zone (DST)NZDT (UTC+13)
Postcode7010

Atawhai is a suburb of Nelson, on the South Island of New Zealand. It lies north of Nelson and is the location of Wakapuaka Cemetery, a burial place since 1861. It also has a coastline on Nelson Haven and access to Boulder Bank via .[1][2]

Geography

Atawhai, including Brooklands and Dodson Valley, covers an area of 4.54 km2, including a land area of 4.54 km2.[3]

Miyazu Japanese Garden, a Japanese public garden and public reserve, is located in Atawhai.[4]

Wakapuaka Cemetery is also located in the area.[4]

Atawhai also has several local parks: Bayview Reserve, Corder Park, Frenchay Reserve, Montrose Reserve, Ngapua Reserve, Queen Elizabeth II Reserve, Te-Ata Reserve, Titoki Reserve, Tresillian Reserve and Werneth Reserve.[4]

History and culture

The estimated population of Atawhai reached 2,000 in 1996.[5]

It reached 2,220 in 2001, 2,208 in 2006, 2,556 in 2013, and 2,790 in 2018.[5]

Whakatū Marae is located in Atawhai. It is the marae (meeting ground) of Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Tau Ihu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Te Atiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui. It includes the Kākāti wharenui (meeting house).[6][7]

Demography

The Atawhai statistical area had an estimated population of as of with a population density of /4.54 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19962,000
20012,220+11.0%
20062,208−0.5%
20132,556+15.8%
20182,790+9.2%
20232,877+3.1%

[8][9][5]

Atawhai had a population of 2,877 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 87 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 321 people (12.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,389 males, 1,485 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,176 dwellings.[10] 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 417 people (14.5%) aged under 15 years, 351 (12.2%) aged 15 to 29, 1,359 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 753 (26.2%) aged 65 or older.[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.3% European (Pākehā); 8.7% Māori; 0.9% Pasifika; 4.4% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 2.5%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 10.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 29.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]

Religious affiliations were 25.5% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.5%, and 6.8% of people did not answer the census question.[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 858 (34.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,206 (49.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 402 (16.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 288 people (11.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,068 (43.4%) full-time, 456 (18.5%) part-time, and 39 (1.6%) unemployed.[8]

Economy

In 2018, 6.9% worked in manufacturing, 8.5% worked in construction, 4.0% worked in hospitality, 4.6% worked in transport, 7.9% worked in education, and 13.5% worked in healthcare.[5]

Transport

As of 2018, among those who commute to work, 73.5% drove a car, 3.4% rode in a car, 7.1% use a bike, and 7.1% walk or run. No one used public transport.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Wakapuaka Cemetery". Nelson.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  2. ^ "Boulder Bank". www.wonderwalkers.co.nz. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  4. ^ "Nelson Parks and Reserves". gdc.govt.nz. Gisborne District Council
  5. ^ "Place Summary – Atawhai". Stats NZ. Statistics New Zealand
  6. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri
  7. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  8. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.304300.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Atawhai (304300). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^
  10. ^ [https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.304300.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.