Awapuni is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. It is located south west of Palmerston North Central. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "blocked-up river" for Awapuni.[3]
Awapuni | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Awatapu College | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 40°22′45″S 175°35′04″E / 40.3791°S 175.5844°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Palmerston North |
| Local authority | Palmerston North City Council |
| Electoral ward |
|
| Area | |
| • Land | 535 ha (1,322 acres) |
| Population (June 2024)[2] | |
| • Total | 9,050 |
| Highbury | Takaro | |
| Longburn |
  Awapuni  |
West End |
| Linton Camp | Massey University |
Te Hotu Manawa Marae and its Tūturu Pumau meeting house are located in Awapuni. It is a tribal meeting ground for the Rangitāne hapū of Ngāti Kapuārangi, Ngāti Rangiaranaki, Ngāti Rangitepaia, Ngāti Hineaute and Ngāti Tauira.[4][5]
Demographics
editAwapuni covers 5.35 km2 (2.07 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 9,050 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 1,692 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 7,947 | — |
| 2013 | 7,845 | −0.18% |
| 2018 | 8,292 | +1.11% |
| Source: [6] | ||
Awapuni had a population of 8,292 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 447 people (5.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 345 people (4.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,003 households, comprising 3,957 males and 4,335 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female, with 1,812 people (21.9%) aged under 15 years, 1,830 (22.1%) aged 15 to 29, 3,408 (41.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,242 (15.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 76.4% European/Pākehā, 20.3% Māori, 6.2% Pacific peoples, 10.7% Asian, and 3.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 18.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.1% had no religion, 35.2% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% were Hindu, 1.6% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,461 (22.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,122 (17.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 870 people (13.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,159 (48.8%) people were employed full-time, 891 (13.8%) were part-time, and 285 (4.4%) were unemployed.[6]
| Name | Area (km2) |
Population | Density (per km2) |
Households | Median age | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awapuni North | 1.23 | 3,504 | 2,849 | 1,242 | 30.7 years | $24,800[7] |
| Maraetarata | 2.33 | 1,422 | 610 | 537 | 40.2 years | $36,500[8] |
| Awapuni South | 1.71 | 3,366 | 1,968 | 1,224 | 36.7 years | $33,000[9] |
| New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Suburbs
editAwapuni North
editAwapuni North features Awapuni School and Kia Toa Sports Club rooms. It is also the location of Awapuni and Alexander Parks, and Rugby, Panako and Raleigh Reserves.
College Street divides Awapuni North from Awapuni South.
Awapuni North had a population of 3,504 in 2018.[7]
Awapuni South
edit.JPG)
Awapuni South contains Riverdale School and Awapuni School, Awatapu College and a chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It features Riverdale, Ahimate and Paneiri Parks; the riverside Dittmer Drive Reserve includes a stopbank and walking track.
The area College Street divides Awapuni North from Awapuni South. The suburb is bounded by the Manawatu River. Dittmer Drive (which runs the bank of the river) has a stopbank, which is the first defence if there is a chance of flooding. There are many large houses along Dittmer Drive.
The area had a resident population of 3,366 in 2018.[9]
Maraetarata
editMaraetarata, previously called Awapuni West, is centred around Awapuni Racecourse. It features Rangitaane, Mangaone, Otira and Totaranui parks.
Maxwells Line divides Maraetarata from Awapuni North and Awapuni South. The Mangaone Stream mostly forms the western boundary. Other features of Maraetarata include the Awapuni Landfill. Maraetarata is the site of the ancient Awapuni Lagoon, upon which the racecourse is now situated.
The area had a population of 1,422 in 2018.[8]
Awapuni Racecourse
editAwapuni is known nationally for having the Awapuni Racecourse,[10] the racing centre for thoroughbred horses (gallopers) in the Manawatu region. The Awapuni Racecourse holds a number of nationally significant races, including the:
- Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes which is a Group One race (the highest level) for 2 year olds run over 1400m in late March or early April. This race is arguably New Zealand's best race for 2 year old horses.
- Awapuni Gold Cup, an open class Group Two race over 2000m also raced in late March or early April, which has been won by some of New Zealand's greatest horses such as the Japan Cup winner Horlicks, and Balmerino.
- Manawatu Classic, a Group Three event over 2000m for 3 year olds.
- Manawatu Breeders Stakes, a Group Three Weight-for-age event over 2000m in April.
- Merial Metric Mile, an open class Group Three event in mid September.
- Eulogy Stakes, a Group Three event for 3 year old fillies over 1550min mid December.
- Manawatu Challenge Stakes, a Group Two Weight-for-age event over 1400m, in late December.
- Manawatu Cup, a Group Three open class event over 2100m in late December.
In the past there were a number of race tracks in the region, such as Feilding and Marton, which have been closed and some of those Club's key races are now held at the Awapuni Racecourse,[11] thereby preserving their history such as the:
- Feilding Gold Cup, a Listed race (the 4th tier) for open class horses over 2100m in early November.
- Marton Cup, a Listed race for open class horses over 2100m in early January.
- Rangitikei Gold Cup, a Listed race for open class horses over 1550m in May.
The Awapuni Racecourse has a large function centre[12] and is a racehorse training centre used by a number of prominent horse trainers.
Education
editAwapuni School is a state contributing primary school for Year 1 to 6 students[13] with a roll of 98. The school opened on 8 September 1958.[14]
Riverdale School is a state contributing primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[15][16] with a roll of 370.[17]
Awatapu College is a state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[18][19] with a roll of 885.[20]
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of August 2024.[21]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Awapuni North (230700), Maraetarata (230900) and Awapuni South (231300).
- ^ a b 2018 Census place summary: Awapuni North
- ^ a b 2018 Census place summary: Maraetarata
- ^ a b 2018 Census place summary: Awapuni South
- ^ "Awapuni Racing Centre". Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Our History".
- ^ "Awapuni Function Centre".
- ^ Education Counts: Awapuni School
- ^ "Awapuni School – History". Awapuni School. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
- ^ "Riverdale School Official School Website". riverdale.school.nz.
- ^ "Riverdale School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Riverdale School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Awatapu College Official School Website". awatapu.school.nz.
- ^ "Awatapu College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Awatapu College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.