Awapuni, Gisborne
Awapuni is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Gisborne, located in the southwest of the city. It is named after the Awapuni lagoon, where the Waipaoa River runs into the ocean. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "blocked-up river" for Awapuni.
The local Awapuni Pā, also known as Te Kuri a Tuatai, is a tribal meeting place of the Rongowhakaata hapū of Ruapani, Ngāi Tāwhiri and Te Whānau a Iwi. It includes the Whareroa meeting house.
Demographics
The statistical area of Makaraka-Awapuni, which also includes Makaraka, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.Makaraka-Awapuni had a population of 1,077 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 102 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 249 people since the 2013 census. There were 579 males, 495 females, and 6 people of other genders in 372 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.2 years. There were 192 people aged under 15 years, 192 aged 15 to 29, 489 aged 30 to 64, and 204 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.4% European ; 47.4% Māori; 7.0% Pasifika; 4.5% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.4%, Māori by 11.1%, Samoan by 2.2%, and other languages by 7.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.7%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.4% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 2.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 2.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 150 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 486 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 246 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 438 full-time, 135 part-time, and 27 unemployed.
Parks
Awapuni has three sports grounds: Awapuni Stadium, the Oval Reserve cricket and rugby ground, and Watson Park.Midway Beach includes a beach, barbecue area, horse riding area, jet skiing area, kite surfing area, dog walking area, and the Kopututea Sand Dunes.
Adventure Playground includes a picnic area and public toilets.