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 6 as of April 2023.[12][13]
References
- Hariss, Gavin. "Waikawau, Waikato". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
- "Waikawau, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- "Waikawau, Waikato". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- "2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place". archive.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- "Waitomo Walks" (PDF). waitomo.govt.nz. Waitomo District Council.
- Pollock, Kerryn. "Waikawau tunnel and beach". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
- "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- Nyika, Ruby (4 November 2018). "Crackdown on freedom camping in Waitomo ahead of summer". Stuff. Waikato Times.
- Tucker, Jim (6 August 2015). "Camper ban on whitebait fans". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. The New Zealand Herald.
- Winder, Virginia (2 May 2014). "Rich in love and laughs". Stuff. Taranaki Daily News.
- Education Counts: Whareorino School
- "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.