Awaiti
Awaiti is a rural community in the Hauraki District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, west of Paeroa.
Awaiti is a Māori word, meaning "little stream".[1]
Geography[edit]
The area is predominantly farmland.[1]
Two canals, Awaiti and Bancrofts, drain from the Kopuatai Peat Dome and surrounding farmland into Tee Head Canal in the Piako River system. The canals have low biodiversity, with a small population of fish which can tolerate the low-quality water.[2]
History[edit]
Early history[edit]
Awaiti is in the rohe (traditional tribal area) of the Ngāti Tamaterā people.[3] There were previously two pā (defensive settlements) in the area; one became a tapū (sacred) burial ground.[1]
Europeans began cattle farming in Awaiti in the late 19th century. In the 1890s, it was a place of "mud and wet and cows" which was only accessible by the river. Ngāti Tamaterā farmed battering pigs and horses.[1]
At the turn of the century, local Māori and Pākehā regularly gathered for social events, including a New Year's Eve sports day.[1]
Modern history[edit]
Following the end of World War I in 1918, six returned servicemen settled farms in the area.[1]
By the 1970s, the area had sealed roads, electricity, and tanker milk delivery to a dairy factory.[1]
There was a small scrub fire in the area in late December 2020.[4] It may have been caused by lightning from a thunder storm passing the area at the time.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Buchanan, Bruce (16 June 1972). "Te Awaiti". Ohinemuri Regional History Journal. 16.
- ^ Hicks, Brendan (2018). Boat electrofishing survey of the Awaiti and Bancrofts canals (Tee Head Canal), Piako River system (PDF). Hamilton: Environmental Research Institute.
- ^ Prickett, Nigel (1990). "Archaeological Excavations at Raupa: the 1987 Season". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 27: 73–153. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906403. Wikidata Q58677392.
- ^ "A scrub fire in rural Awaiti near Paeroa has now been put out". NZCity. Newstalk ZB. 27 December 2020.
- ^ Leaman, Aaron (31 December 2020). "Firefighters extinguish grass fire threatening homes at Port Waikato". stuff.co.nz. Waikato Times.