Hāwera

The Māori-language name Hāwera means "burnt place"; it arose as a result of fighting between two local sub-tribes, which culminated in the setting ablaze of the sleeping whare (house) of the tribe under attack.^[3] An older Māori name was Tau-patatē, referring to the patatē or seven-finger tree Schefflera digitata.^[4] Spelled "Hawera" for most of its European history, a macron was added to the official name by the New Zealand Geographic Board in June 2019.^[5]

The town's name meaning "burnt place" became apt when the town suffered extensive blazes in 1884, 1888, and 1912.^[6]

For this reason a large water tower was built in the centre of town to increase water pressure; and this became one of Taranaki's best-known landmarks (appearing, for example, on the cover of the 1974 telephone directory). After falling into disrepair the tower was closed to the public in 2001, but after an extensive restoration programme it opened again in 2004.^[7]

There are four marae in the Hāwera area:

• Ngātiki Pa, is affiliated with Taanga’oe Hapū of Hāmua and Hawe.
• Te Rangatapu Marae and its Aorangi meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāruahine hapū of Kanihi-Umutahi and Ōkahu-Inuāwai.
• Taiporohēnui Marae and its Whareroa meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāti Ruanui hapū of Hāmua and Hāpōtiki.
• Wharepuni Marae and its Tūpaia meeting house are affiliated with the Ngāti Ruanui hapū of Ngāti Tānewai and Ngāti Tūpaea.

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,479,479 from the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate Meremere Marae, Ketemarae Pā, Pariroa Marae and Taiporohēnui Marae, creating 35 jobs.^[8]

Hāwera covers 25.18 km² (9.72 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 10,350 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 411 people per km².

Hāwera had a population of 9,792 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 666 people (7.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 975 people (11.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 3,816 households, comprising 4,770 males and 5,025 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 2,043 people (20.9%) aged under 15 years, 1,767 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 4,071 (41.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,908 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 78.8% European/Pākehā, 27.5% Māori, 1.9% Pacific peoples, 5.0% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.0% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 2.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 714 (9.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 2,208 (28.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 1,125 people (14.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,621 (46.7%) people were employed full-time, 996 (12.9%) were part-time, and 378 (4.9%) were unemployed.^[9]

The cornerstone of Hāwera's economy is the dairy industry. The Whareroa Dairy Factory, located approximately 4 km southwest of the township, was once the largest dairy-production site in the world.^[15] The complex is currently owned by Fonterra, having been built by the Kiwi Co-operative Dairies, whose original plant opened on the site in 1975.

During peak season, the complex employs around 1,000 staff members and processes up to 14 million litres of milk. The site also features a gas-fired power plant that supplies electricity and heat for dairy. Excess electricity from the plant is fed into the national power grid.^[16]

Hāwera is home to the Tawhiti Museum. The museum is known for its handcrafted life-sized figures and scale models. Exhibits in the museum portray the cultural history and heritage of the region. The museum's displays include detailed recreations of local Māori pā sites. Exhibit provide educational insight into the historical lifestyles and structures of the indigenous community.^[17] The historical significance of such sites is exemplified by the Turuturu-Mokai complex, which is an archaeological treasure and provides a tangible connection to the region's past.^[18]

Hāwera Primary School was established in 1875. It developed into a District High School in 1901. Hāwera High School opened as Hāwera Technical High School in 1919, and moved to a new site in 1921.^[19] The intermediate school opened in 1961.^[20] In October 2021, it was announced that Hāwera High School and Hāwera Intermediate would be closing at the end of 2022. A new, years 7–13 school, Te Paepae o Aotea, was created on the former Hāwera High School campus at the beginning of 2023.^[21]

The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki has a campus in Hāwera,^[22] established in 1990.^[23]

Te Paepae o Aotea is a secondary school for years 7 to 13^[24] with a roll of 968.

Hāwera Primary School, Ramanui School, Tawhiti School and Turuturu School are contributing primary (years 1–6) schools with rolls of 151, 50, 295 and 299 respectively.^[25] Hāwera Primary celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2000.^[26] Ramanui school celebrated its 50th jubilee in 2003.^[27]

Hāwera Christian School and St Joseph's School are state integrated full primary (years 1–8) schools with rolls of 33 and 192 respectively.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngati Ruanui is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 88. It is a Kura Kaupapa Māori school which teaches in the Māori language.

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of February 2024.^[25]

Hāwera is in the South Taranaki district. After serving four terms as mayor of South Taranaki, Ross Dunlop did not stand in the 2019 election, and was replaced as mayor by District Councillor Phil Nixon.^[28]

• Aroha Awarau, journalist
• Michael Bent, rugby player
• Pat Booth, investigative journalist
• Chester Borrows, National Party Member of Parliament
• Cameron Brewer, Auckland councillor
• Alan Brough, actor and comedian
• Gayle Broughton, rugby union player
• Michael Campbell, professional golfer
• Tim Chadwick, artist and author
• Geoffrey Duncan Chisholm, surgeon
• Fanny Good (1860–1950), painter and botanical illustrator
• John Gildroy Grant, World War I Victoria Cross recipient
• Wayne Gould, populariser of sudoku
• Ben Hurley, comedian and cricket commentator
• Peter Ingram, cricket player
• Fiona Kidman, writer
• Nicola Kawana, actress
• Issac Luke, rugby league player
• John Mitchell, rugby union player and coach
• Ronald Hugh Morrieson, author
• Alan Stuart Paterson, cartoonist
• John Plumtree, rugby union player and coach
• Conrad Smith, All Black rugby union player
• Elijah Taylor, rugby league player
• Adine Wilson, Silver Ferns netballer
• Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Māori Party member of parliament

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hāwera.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hawera.

• Hāwera information page from the South Taranaki District Council