Eskdale is a rural settlement in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located north of Napier on State Highway 5,[2] near the mouth of the Esk River.[3]
Eskdale | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 39°24′12″S 176°51′08″E / 39.403450°S 176.852263°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Hawke's Bay Region |
| Territorial authority | Hastings District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Hastings District Rural Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Hastings District Council |
| • Regional council | Hawke's Bay Regional Council |
| Postcode(s) | 4182 |
Description and history
editThe valley has many vineyards, wineries, orchards and fishing spots.[3] The local Eskdale War Memorial Church was designed by James Chapman-Taylor,[4] and dedicated to Percival Moore Beattie, a local man killed during World War I.[5][6]
The river has a history of flooding.[3] Flash flooding inundated the settlement in March 2018,[7] leaving most of the local holiday parks underwater.[8] Large parts of the valley were inundated during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. The floods caused significant damage in the settlement, destroying houses and sections of State Highway 5 and the Palmerston North–Gisborne Railway Line.[9]
A wildfire broke out near Eskdale in March 2019.[10]
Demographics
editPuketapu-Eskdale statistical area, which also includes Puketapu and Whirinaki, covers 259.60 km2 (100.23 sq mi)[11] and had an estimated population of 3,030 as of June 2024,[12] with a population density of 12 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 2,052 | — |
| 2013 | 2,184 | +0.89% |
| 2018 | 2,673 | +4.12% |
| Source: [1] | ||
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 244.98 km2 (94.59 sq mi).[11] Using that boundary, Puketapu-Eskdale had a population of 2,673 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 489 people (22.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 621 people (30.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 915 households, comprising 1,392 males and 1,284 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 45.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 480 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 414 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,395 (52.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 384 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.3% European/Pākehā, 13.6% Māori, 5.2% Pacific peoples, 1.2% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 17.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.2% had no religion, 37.3% were Christian, 1.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 453 (20.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 348 (15.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 495 people (22.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,272 (58.0%) people were employed full-time, 363 (16.6%) were part-time, and 39 (1.8%) were unemployed.[1]
Education
editEskdale School is a co-educational state primary school,[13] with a roll of 285 as of August 2024.[14][15] The school opened in 1859 and was redeveloped in the 1990s.[16]
Hukarere Girls' College is a single-sex state-integrated secondary school,[17] with a roll of 63 as of August 2024.[14][18] The school was founded as Hukarere Native School for Girls in 1875 in Napier. It moved to its current site in 2003. It has strong ties to both the Anglican Church and to Māori culture.[19]
References
edit
- ^ a b c "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Puketapu-Eskdale (208300). 2018 Census place summary: Puketapu-Eskdale
- ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Eskdale, Hawke's Bay". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
- ^ a b c "Eskdale". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ Burgess, Linda (2015). Historic Churches: A Guide to Over 60 Early New Zealand Churches. Penguin Books. pp. 116–119. ISBN 978-1775537335.
- ^ "Eskdale War Memorial Church". nzhistory.govt.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- ^ "Eskdale War Memorial Church". Hastings Standard. 4 December 1920.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Patrick (8 March 2018). "Local Focus: Flash Flood shocks Eskdale residents". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ Appleby, Luke (8 March 2018). "Breathtaking drone footage shows Napier holiday park's 'muddy mess' after flooded river rose by 7m in one-in-50-year event". Television New Zealand. 1News.
- ^ "Cyclone Gabrielle: Eskdale residents send desperate plea to emergency officials". Newshub.
- ^ May, George (24 March 2019). "Bay View hill fire threatened homes: 'We were very lucky that it was a calm day'". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Eskdale School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ a b "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Eskdale School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ Laing, Doug (26 October 2016). "New rooms pledged as regions' old schools grow". Hawkes Bay Today.
- ^ "Hukarere Girls' College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Hukarere Girls' College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Our Story". Hukarere Girls' College. Retrieved 1 February 2023.