Tōrere
Tōrere | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 37°57′00″S 177°29′24″E / 37.950°S 177.490°E} | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District |
| Ward | Coast |
| Community | Coast Community |
| Electorates | East Coast Waiariki |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Ōpōtiki District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Ōpōtiki | David Moore[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 28.50 km2 (11.00 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 129 |
| • Density | 4.5/km2 (12/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 3197 |
| Area code | 07 |
Tōrere, also written Torere, is a small coastal settlement in the Ōpōtiki District of the Bay of Plenty Region on New Zealand's North Island.[6] It is about 20 km (12 mi) by road north-east of the town of Ōpōtiki. Neighburing localities include Opape to the south-west and Hāwai to the north-east. Tōrere is the ancestral home of the Ngāitai people.[7]
History
[edit]Tōrere was one of the earliest places visited by the Tainui migratory waka. Traditional histories tell of Tōrere-nui-ā-rua, eldest child and daughter of Hoturoa she is referred to as the aho ariki. Tōrere disembarked from the Tainui waka to escape from the advances of the tohunga known as Taikehu. During her escape, Tōrere met a local rangatira, Manaakiao and the two married. Their descendants became known as Ngāitai, and the area was named after Tōrere-nui-ā-rua.[8]
The bodies of two girls washed ashore at Torere in 1900. They were among 16 children and two adults who had drowned while crossing the Mōtū River days earlier.[9]
The body of a 54-year-old woman washed ashore at Torere in 2017.[10]
A hui, held in Torere in August 2018, found locals were opposed to a national Māori Battalion Museum being established at Waitangi to commemorate local men who served or died during World War II.[11]
Demographics
[edit]Tōrere and its surrounds cover 28.50 km2 (11.00 sq mi).[4] Tōrere is part of the larger Cape Runaway statistical area.[12]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 141 | — |
| 2013 | 111 | −3.36% |
| 2018 | 126 | +2.57% |
| 2023 | 129 | +0.47% |
| Source: [5][13] | ||
Tōrere and its surrounds had a population of 129 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (2.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (16.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 60 males and 69 females in 48 dwellings.[14] 4.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 24 people (18.6%) aged under 15 years, 30 (23.3%) aged 15 to 29, 45 (34.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (20.9%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 25.6% European (Pākehā), 83.7% Māori, and 7.0% Pasifika. English was spoken by 95.3%, and Māori by 34.9%. No language could be spoken by 4.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 2.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 37.2% Christian, and 20.9% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 34.9%, and 7.0% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (14.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 51 (48.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 39 (37.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 36 (34.3%) full-time, 9 (8.6%) part-time, and 9 (8.6%) unemployed.[5]
Marae
[edit]Tōrere has a marae. It includes the Holy Trinity Memorial Church, a 1950s church decorated with carved pillars, tukutuku panels and stained-glass windows.[15] Its World War II Roll of Honour includes the names of almost 40 local men who served in the Māori Battalion, including eight killed in action.[16]
Education
[edit]Te Kura o Tōrere is a co-educational Māori immersion primary school,[17] with a roll of 29 as of March 2025.[18][19] It was established on 27 February 1878 as a Māori school with fifteen pupils. It functioned as a post office, telephone exchange and birth, death and marriage registry during the early 19th century. It became a general school in 1969, then a Māori immersion school in 2001.[20] It features a carved gateway.[15]
Economy
[edit]One of the area's largest businesses is Torere Macadamias,[21] an organic macadamia farm established on land not suited to other forms of agriculture.[22] The farm featured on Country Calendar in 2017.[23] Macadamia research from the farm has been presented at the University of Hawaii.[24] The farm is a major global producer of macadamias and related products.[25]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mayor and Councillors". Ōpōtiki District Council. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015402. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Torere, Bay of Plenty". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
- ^ "Ngaitai Iwi Authority Deed of Mandate - Te Puni Kokiri" (PDF). tpk.govt.nz. Ngatai Iwi Authority. 2 October 2013.
- ^ Green, Nathew (2011). "From Hawaīki to Howick – A Ngāi Tai History". Grey's Folly: A History of Howick, Pakuranga, Bucklands-Eastern Beaches, East Tamaki, Whitford, Beachlands and Maraetai. By La Roche, Alan. Auckland: Tui Vale Productions. pp. 16–33. ISBN 978-0-473-18547-3. OCLC 1135039710.
- ^ Johnson, Martin (5 August 2018). "Memory of children's deaths in Bay of Plenty's flooded Motu River kept alive by tribe". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Maitland, Te Ahua. "Woman washed up on beach identified". stuff.co.nz.
- ^ "Strong objections to battalion museum". Gisborne Herald. 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015402.
- ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b Eagles, Jim (26 October 2011). "Carvings celebrate the history of New Zealand's East Cape". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "WW2 Roll of Honour, Torere". 28maoribattalion.org.nz. New Zealand Government.
- ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
- ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ^ "Torere School". archives.govt.nz. Archives New Zealand.
- ^ Tait-Jamieson, Anna. "Maori macadamia industry tough nut to crack". Lifestyle Magazine Group. NZ Life and Leisure Magazine.
- ^ Rishworth, Sophie (19 November 2017). "Realising a dream of macadamias". Gisborne Herald.
- ^ "Torere Macadamia Orchard features on Country Calendar". Gisborne Herald. 26 July 2017.
- ^ "The Unique Story of How Macadamias Flourished Here". tairawhitigisborne.co.nz. Activate Tairāwhiti.
As the only macadamia variety researcher in New Zealand, Vanessa was invited to attend an International Research symposium in Hawai'i this September 2017; limited to 100 top researchers and scientists from around the world.
- ^ "Sales of Macadamia Butter Market to Record Stellar Growth During the Forecast Period 2018 – 2028". Best Market Herald. 19 June 2019.