Kauaeranga Valley

{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kauaeranga Valley | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = | image_skyline = Kauaeranga Valley - Camping amongst nature.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = View from a campsite of the Kauaeranga Valley | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 10 | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|-37.122|175.630|display=title,inline}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[New Zealand]] | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = [[Waikato]] | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = [[Thames-Coromandel District]] | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Thames ward | subdivision_type4 = Community Board | subdivision_name4 = Thames Community | leader_title = Council | leader_name = [[Thames-Coromandel District Council]] | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = [[Waikato Regional Council]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Thames-Coromandel]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Thames-Coromandel District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Coromandel MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}} | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|[[Coromandel (New Zealand electorate)|Coromandel]]|[[Hauraki-Waikato]] (Māori)}} | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 179.01 | population_total = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kauaeranga|y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y}} | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2023 SA2||||y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website =  | footnotes = }} '''Kauaeranga Valley''' is a valley created by the [[Kauaeranga River]], which flows from the [[Coromandel Range]] southwest to the [[Firth of Thames]] at [[Thames, New Zealand]] in the [[North Island]]. It contains the settlement of '''Kauaeranga''' ({{coord|-37.1453|175.5902|display=inline|region:NZ_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}) on the [[Coromandel Peninsula]]. It is located near [[Thames, New Zealand|Thames]], in the [[Thames-Coromandel District]] in the [[Waikato]] region. It covers a land area of 179.01 km2.<ref name="Area"/>

Kauaeranga Valley Road is the only significant road in the valley.

==History== The local iwi, [[Ngāti Maru (Hauraki)|Ngāti Maru]], called the area Waiwhakauaeranga ("waters of the stacked jaw bones") in memory of a battle after which they piled the jaw bones of their enemies on the side of the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newzealand.com/nz/feature/kauaeranga-valley/|title=Kauaeranga Valley|publisher=Tourism New Zealand|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref> [[File:Kauri_logging_information_board_near_Totara.jpg|thumb|[[Thames, New Zealand|Kauraeranga Valley information board near Totara on]] [[Hauraki Rail Trail]]]] The valley was a rich source of [[kauri]] timber, and numerous dams and several tramlines were built to facilitate harvesting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecoromandel.com/explore/kauaeranga-valley|title=Kauaeranga Valley|publisher=Destination Coromandel|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/kauaeranga-valley/kauri-driving-dams/|title=Kauri Driving Dams|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref> The last big removal of timber from the Kauraeranga Valley started with the Kauri Timber Company building a {{Convert|14|mi|abbr=on}} tramway up the valley from the Parawai booms in 1915.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 1970 |title=Ohinemuri - Kauri Timber Industry - Kauaeranga Valley |url=https://www.ohinemuri.org.nz/journals/40-journal-14-october-1970/707-kauri-timber-industry-kauaeranga-valley |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=www.ohinemuri.org.nz}}</ref> Later they extended the line to a dump at the Waihou river below Kopu. All bush operations were finished by January 1928, and the line was lifted. Over 40 million feet of timber was carried over this line.<ref name=":182">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Sawmilling |url=https://www.thetreasury.org.nz/the-journal/sawmilling-at-thames-and-the-coromandel |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2019-08-01 |website=thetreasury.org.nz}}</ref> Parts of driving dams, Webb Creek staircase, a log hauling skid road,<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2010 |title=Kauaeranga River reveals logging history |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/news/media-releases/2010/kauaeranga-river-reveals-logging-history/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.doc.govt.nz |language=en-nz}}</ref> the Parawai Boom<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=Parawai Booms. Log Barriers in the Kauaeranga River. |url=https://www.thetreasury.org.nz/the-journal/parawai-booms-log-barriers-in-the-kauaeranga-river |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.thetreasury.org.nz}}</ref> and the Billy Goat incline remain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008 |title=Billygoat Tramway |url=https://www.thetreasury.org.nz/the-journal/billygoat-tramway |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=www.thetreasury.org.nz}}</ref>

In some parts of the valley, farms were established with five lots made available in 1880. Lack of roads and severe weather made farming difficult, so land was allowed to revert to bush. There was little farmed land left by the late 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/things-to-do/crosbies-hut/history-of-crosbies-settlement/|title=History of Crosbies Settlement|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

Residents first requested that the Auckland Education Board establish a school in the valley in 1896, but the Kauaeranga Valley School did not open until 1903.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19031219.2.25?query=Kauaeranga+Valley+School|title=Local and General News|newspaper=New Zealand Herald|date=19 December 1903|page=7}}</ref> The initial roll was 30 students. By 1946, with the road to Thames having improved and many children going to school there, the roll had fallen to seven, and the school closed.{{sfn|Berry|2007|pp=98–100}}

A post and telegraph office opened in 1903<ref>{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS19030828.2.9?query=Kauaeranga|newspaper=Thames Star|date=28 August 1903|page=10|title=Untitled}}</ref> The Post Office closed in 1953, with rural delivery taking its place. A telephone office operated from the closure of the post office until 1955, when an automatic exchange would have rendered it unnecessary.{{sfn|Berry|2007|pp=126–127}}

The Kauaeranga Valley Dairy Company opened a factory in November 1907 to produce milk and butter. It closed in September 1908 and moved to Parawai, where it was defunct by 1910.{{sfn|Berry|2007|pp=127–129}}

A road between Thames and [[Tairua]] was proposed in 1909, with the recommended route going through the Kauaeranga Valley, up the Piraunui Valley, across the Hihi saddle, and down the third branch of [[Tairua River]]. In 1926, a track was created over this route, and the following year, 100 men started work to convert it to a road, but the work was abandoned later that year. After the Second World War, a route further south along the Kirikiri Stream gained favour, and the road which is now {{NZlSH|25A}} was built from 1961, opening to traffic in March 1967.{{sfn|Berry|2007|pp=46–51}}

From 1957, an electric power line was built from Thames, through the Kauaeranga Valley and north to [[Coroglen]]. This was complete by 1959.{{sfn|Berry|2007|pp=130–131}}

[[Coromandel Forest Park]] was established in 1970 to provide protection for the remaining native forest, and took over the remaining farmland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thetreasury.org.nz/Crosbies.htm|title=Crosbies Settlement – Coromandel Forest Park, NZ - Description, History and Photos|first=David|last=Wilton|publisher=The Thames-Hauraki-Coromandel Research Centre & Archive|year=2008|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813192814/https://thetreasury.org.nz/Crosbies.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics== Kauaeranga covers {{Convert|179.01|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=27 February 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kauaeranga|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Kauaeranga|y}}|R}}/179.01|1}} people per km2.

{{Historical populations|2006|531|2013|528|2018|540|2023|615|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Kauaeranga (167500)|kauaeranga|Kauaeranga}}</ref><ref name="Census 2023"/>|footnote=The 2006 population is for a larger area of 180.50 km2.}} Kauaeranga had a population of 615 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 75 people (13.9%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 87 people (16.5%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 312 males and 300 females in 219 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=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%2Bdo1.167501.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> 1.5% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 49.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 120 people (19.5%) aged under 15 years, 66 (10.7%) aged 15 to 29, 279 (45.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 147 (23.9%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.2% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]); 13.7% [[Māori people|Māori]]; 1.5% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]]; 2.0% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]]; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori language by 1.5%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 9.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). [[New Zealand Sign Language]] was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 24.9% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.5% [[Māori religious beliefs]], 1.0% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 1.0% [[New Age]], 0.5% [[Judaism in New Zealand|Jewish]], and 0.5% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 63.4%, and 8.3% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 114 (23.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 279 (56.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 99 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 48 people (9.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 210 (42.4%) people were employed full-time, 108 (21.8%) were part-time, and 6 (1.2%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=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.167501.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Kauaeranga (167501)}}</ref>

==Economy== In 2018, 13.2% of the workforce worked in healthcare, 10.4% worked in construction, 9.4% of the workforce worked in primary industries, 9.4% worked in manufacturing, 9.4% worked in education, 4.7% worked in transport and 3.8% worked in hospitality.<ref name="Stats NZ Kauaeranga" />

==Tourism== [[File:Pinnacles Peaking, Coromandel.jpg|thumb|The Pinnacles in Kauaeranga Valley]] Kauaeranga Visitor Centre is an information centre run by the Department of Conservation. It accepts payment for camping at the numerous campsites further along the road, and organises accommodation at two cottages next to the centre. The centre is {{cvt|13|km}} from Thames on Kauaeranga Valley Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/kauaeranga-valley/kauaeranga-visitor-centre/|title=Kauaeranga Visitor Centre|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref> The road is sealed to this point, and gravel for the remaining {{cvt|9|km}}. Short walks, day tramps and multi-day tramps start from the road beyond the centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/kauaeranga-valley/|title=Kauaeranga Valley|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/coromandel/kauaeranga-valley-brochure.pdf|title=Kauaeranga valley and Broken Hills|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

The Pinnacles Walk is a tramp from the end of Kauaeranga Valley Road to the summit of a volcanic plug, {{convert|759|m}} above sea level. The return tramp takes eight hours and is often done over two days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecoromandel.com/activities/must-do/the-pinnacles/|title=The Pinnacles|publisher=Destination Coromandel|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

Pinnacles Hut with 80 bunks and Crosbies Hut with 10 bunks provide basic overnight accommodation for the multi-day tramps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/things-to-do/pinnacles-hut/|title=Pinnacles Hut|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/things-to-do/crosbies-hut/|title=Crosbies Hut|publisher=Department of Conservation|access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>

==Transportation== As of 2018, among those who commute to work, 67.9% drove a car, 0.9% rode in a car, 1.9% used a bike, and 1.9% walked or ran.<ref name="Stats NZ Kauaeranga ">{{cite web |title=Place Summary - Kauaeranga |url=https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/kauaeranga |website=Stats NZ |publisher=[[Statistics New Zealand]]}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== {{commons category}} {{cite book|title=The Kauaeranga Valley : a brief history of the Ngāti Maru in the valley and the immediate area, and of the pākehā pioneers and settlers|editor1-first=Allan|editor1-last=Berry|isbn=9780473126735|year=2007}}

[[Category:Thames-Coromandel District]] [[Category:Valleys of New Zealand]] [[Category:Landforms of Waikato]]