48-725: Awanui is an historical river port in the far north of New Zealand, on the banks of the Awanui River just before it flows into Rangaunu Bay. Awanui lies at the south end of the Aupouri Peninsula in the Far North District Council of the Northland Region , approximately 7 km north of Kaitaia . The river port has ceased operation and a recreational wharf is located at Unahi , on the shore of Rangaunu Bay, approximately 3 km north of
96-534: A large volume of water. There were six lifeboats on board and they were immediately launched. The captain stayed with his ship until she was fully under, when he was washed into the sea and picked up by one of the lifeboats. Under the command of the Executive Officer L. Berkett, Number Two lifeboat struck out to find help. He took the lifeboat round North Cape and down the east coast towards Houhora . They landed just north of Mount Camel , and several of
144-705: A rider to Awanui to alert the crew of the Greyhound , which was known to be in port. They also knew that a passenger ship, the Zealandia , was sailing up the coast en route to Australia and would soon be passing Mount Camel. Members of the Wagener, Northwood and McIntosh families put to sea in Peter McIntosh's whaleboat and succeeded in getting the Zealandia to hove to. They informed the captain and he immediately got under way at all speed, however, leaving behind
192-527: A shipping link with Auckland, transporting many of the early pioneering families into the northern districts. The Subritzkys also established flax mills and began processing fibres for sales and export. Then came the days of the gum diggers, and for the rest of the 1800s and well into the 1900s it was the gum trade which provided much of the prosperity in Northland. On the 5 November 1902, the steamer Elingamite had sailed from Sydney bound for Auckland . On
240-732: A short time the Subritzky family owned or controlled almost all of the North from Awanui northward - the town of Awanui was built by the Subritzkys and their extended family, both Pakeha and Maori. The hub of the Subritzky family operations was the Mount Camel Station, and their influence on the Far North for the next fifty years stretched far and wide. They imported cattle and developed their own breed of shorthorn. They developed
288-564: A very exhausted whaleboat crew to their own devices some 25 miles out to sea. On the evening of the 10 November 1902, Captain Alfred Subritzky, master of the Greyhound , was asleep at his home in Awanui, and his ship tied up alongside the Subritzky wharf. He was awoken by the sound of hoofbeats, a man galloping on a horse calling his name "Captain Subritzky!" The rider drew up outside the house, having ridden hard down from Houhora, all
336-640: Is a reptile species only found on these islands. Many marine invertebrates found around the islands are also endemic, such as the molluscs Haliotis pirimoana (Manawatāwhi pāua) and Penion lineatus . There is considerable evidence that the Three Kings Islands have not been recently connected to the North Island landmass but have been connected to each other by land bridges. Genetic studies of different insect populations have suggested different separation times from similar species found in
384-629: Is about 6 km to the north east, and Kaitaia is 7 km south. Early in 1868, John Anton Subritzky and his family sold up their business interests in Maldon, Australia and sailed to New Zealand aboard the barquentine Prince Alfred , arriving first in the Port of Auckland, and then sailing aboard a family schooner to Houhora and the Mount Camel Station, a large estate owned by his older brothers Captain Ludolph Johann and Heinrich Wilhelm. Within
432-419: Is surrounded by 70-90m high cliffs. Māori stonework and terracing can be found on the island. Farmer Rocks, 0.8 km east of Manawatāwhi / Great Island, are 5 metres high and just a few hundred square metres in size. The second largest island of the group, at 0.38 square kilometres (0.15 sq mi) and a height of 207 metres (679 ft). It is about 4.5 km southwest of Great island. The island
480-418: Is surrounded by 80-120m high cliffs. The Princes Islands are seven small islets and numerous rocks with a total area of about 0.2 km , start 600 m west of South West Island and stretch about 1.8 km east–west. The north-eastern islet is the highest at 106 m. The smallest islet is Rosemary Rock . These islands are sparsely vegetated. The third largest island at 0.16 km , found 500m southwest of
528-489: Is the wreck of the Elingamite which foundered there on 9 November 1902. With an area of 4.04 square kilometres (1.56 sq mi), Manawatāwhi / Great Island is by far the largest island of the group. A northeastern peninsula , with an area of about 1 km , is almost cut off by a 200 m wide but more than 80 m high isthmus formed by North West Bay and South East Bay. The island reaches an elevation of 295 m in
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#1732793857098576-474: The Recherche in 1793. In the late 1700s, a party of mainland Te Aupōuri led by Taiakiaki travelled to the islands and killed the approximate 100 inhabitants, led by Toumaramara. Between 1800 and 1830 Te Aupōuri visited sporadically, however did not settle permanently. Tame Porena (also known as Tom Bowline) married Taiakiaki's granddaughter, and settled on the islands with his family of twelve children in
624-710: The 2023 New Zealand census , a decrease of 60 people (−14.8%) since the 2018 census , and an increase of 6 people (1.8%) since the 2013 census . There were 165 males, 177 females and 3 people of other genders in 126 dwellings. 3.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+ . The median age was 37.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 75 people (21.7%) aged under 15 years, 57 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 147 (42.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (17.4%) aged 65 or older. People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 53.0% European ( Pākehā ), 71.3% Māori , 6.1% Pasifika , 2.6% Asian , and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English
672-587: The Māori language . Both schools are coeducational. Awanui River The Awanui River is a river in the far north of New Zealand , close to the point at which the Aupouri Peninsula joins the rest of the Northland Peninsula . The Awanui flows first west and then north, for a total of 30 kilometres (19 mi), before flowing into Rangaunu Harbour . The town of Kaitaia is along its banks. The four major upstream rivers which discharge into
720-460: The Ngāti Kahu hapū of Patu Kōraha : Kareponia Marae and Patukoraha meeting house. Statistics New Zealand describes Awanui as a rural settlement. It covers 0.96 km (0.37 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 650 as of June 2024, with a population density of 677 people per km. Awanui is part of the larger Rangaunu Harbour statistical area . Awanui had a population of 345 in
768-494: The 1830s and 1840s, establishing large gardens, until starvation forced them to relocate to the mainland. Since then, nobody has settled on the islands permanently. Botanist Thomas Frederic Cheeseman visited the islands in 1887 and 1889, documenting the plant species present on the islands for the first time. Cheeseman noted that the Great Island had begun to reforest since Māori settlement. The islands were purchased by
816-666: The 20th century, Awanui was dominated by the Kaitaia Co-operative Dairy Factory, located immediately north of the township. The factory was constructed in 1926, which included the current wharf structure at Unahi. In 1986, the Kaitaia Co-operative merged with the neighbouring Northland Dairy Company. A sequence of such mergers would eventually form Fonterra . Given the distance away from markets, together with improved farming technology and transportation methods, these mergers eventually forced
864-584: The Awanui River are the Takahue River , Victoria River , Karemuhako Stream, and Tarawhaturoa Stream. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "large river" for Awanui . The Awanui River was extensively dredged for navigation until 1960, with a busy river port at Awanui exporting butter via coastal scows to Auckland, for trans-shipping to the UK. Upstream of Awanui it
912-466: The Awanui River levels, as well as planning and implementing flood protection works. The water quality of the river is monitored by Northland Regional Council , and the environmental information can be viewed on the LAWA website . The town of Kaitaia extracts water from the Awanui River. Three Kings Islands The Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands (Manawatāwhi is also the Māori name for
960-456: The Awanui River, then ran up all available canvas - the ship still had to clear the bar. The Greyhound raced at the bar with the auxiliary engine running and the sails set "Goose Wing" fashion, one boom on the port beam, one boom on the starboard beam and the wind blowing from directly astern. The bow section cleared and then there was a terrific thump as the keel struck the bar, but the vessel shuddered her way over then ploughed northward and into
1008-548: The Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia ). These are the only two geographic features in New Zealand to retain the names given to them by Abel Tasman. Tasman noted a group of 30-35 inhabitants on the island when attempting to come ashore to replenish water supplies, and saw no trees on the island. Since Tasman's visit, several European ships sighted the island, such as French botanist Jacques Labillardière on board
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#17327938570981056-400: The Great Island was cleared by Māori of vegetation to grow tuber crops such as kūmara . No defensive pā sites are found on the island, likely as the people who lived on Manawatāwhi did not feel threatened due to the islands' distance from the mainland. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman bestowed the name Drie Koningen Eyland (Three Kings Island) on 6 January 1643, three weeks after he became
1104-602: The New Zealand government in 1908 from seven Māori people, and declared an animal sanctuary in 1930. A population of goats (left on the Manawatāwhi Island in November 1889 as a food source for shipwrecked people) had run rampant, reaching numbers of 300-400 goats by 1900. This led Baden Powell of the Auckland War Memorial Museum , who visited in a group, to petition the government to deal with
1152-472: The North Island varying from 24 million years ago to 2.24 million years ago. Further, some species of these islands that are within eyeshot of northern New Zealand have stronger genetic links to species now found in Australia or New Caledonia or no genetic links to present New Zealand species. These include the flax snail, Placostylus bollonsi Suter Three Kings Island is a nature reserve administered by
1200-407: The census question. Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (7.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 141 (52.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 99 (36.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $ 34,700, compared with $ 41,500 nationally. 9 people (3.3%) earned over $ 100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15
1248-417: The end of hostilities in 1945, the airbase was closed and facilities abandoned, the far more suitable Kaitaia Airport nearby being developed with a paved runway. Awanui has three marae affiliated with Ngāi Takoto : Marae and Te Whakamomoringa meeting house, Te Pā a Parore Marae and Te Pā A Parore meeting house, and Waimanoni Marae and Wikitoria meeting house. It also has a marae affiliated with
1296-488: The factory at Awanui to close by the early 1990s. Dairy farms remain active in the area, although smaller, with milk being transported to the Kauri Dairy Factory just north of Whangārei , approximately 100 km south. In the 1920s, kauri timber and gum from Kaitaia moved to the coast through Awanui. State Highway 1 and 10 intersect at Awanui. Waiharara is 16 km to the north west, Kaingaroa
1344-584: The fauna and flora of the Three Kings island group including the Three Kings Islands expedition 1970 . The Three Kings group falls into two subgroups with four main inhospitable islands and a number of smaller rocks on a submarine plateau called King Bank which rises out of extremely deep water. There are no beaches. The surrounding sea has very clear visibility and contains teeming fish life, attracting hundreds of divers. Another attraction
1392-521: The first European known to have seen New Zealand. Tasman anchored at the islands when searching for water. As it was the Twelfth Night feast of the Epiphany , the day the biblical three kings known as the wise men visited Christ the child, he named the main island accordingly. Tasman also named a prominent cape Cape Maria van Diemen , after the wife of Anthony van Diemen , Governor-General of
1440-487: The goat population. In 1946 the goat population were shot and removed from the island, leading to the regeneration of forest on Manawatāwhi. However, 50 species described by Cheeseman in the 1880s have not been described again, and by the 1980s two plant species were only represented by one wild specimen. In 1956, the islands were declared a reserve for the preservation of flora and fauna. There have been several notable research expeditions that have concentrated on studying
1488-618: The largest island) are a group of 13 uninhabited islands about 55 kilometres (34 mi) northwest of Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua , New Zealand , where the South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea converge. They measure 6.85 km (2.64 sq mi) in area. The islands are on a submarine plateau, the Three Kings Bank, and are separated from the New Zealand mainland by an 8 km wide, 200 to 300 m deep submarine trough. Therefore, despite relative proximity to
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1536-666: The mainland, the islands are listed with the New Zealand Outlying Islands . The islands are an immediate part of New Zealand, but not part of any region or district , but instead Area Outside Territorial Authority , like all the other outlying islands except the Solander Islands . During the Last Glacial Maximum when sea levels were over 100 metres lower than present day levels, most offshore islands of New Zealand were connected to
1584-402: The mainland. Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, while connected to each other, were not connected to the rest of New Zealand. Sea levels began to rise 7,000 years ago, separating the individual islands in the group. Manawatāwhi was traditionally settled by Muriwhenua Māori . In Māori mythology , Ōhau (West Island) is the final glimpse of New Zealand seen by departing spirits, after leaving
1632-533: The master of the Clansman refused to take possession of them, and so the Greyhound was forced to return to Awanui due to the decaying of the remains. The three deceased were buried in an unmarked grave at Saint Joseph's churchyard in Awanui by the crew of the Greyhound and the Reverend Merton. A Royal New Zealand Air Force aerodrome and base was located nearby at Waipapakauri during World War II. At
1680-400: The morning of the 9th the ship encountered a dense fog and the engines were slowed to half speed. The Elingamite was a large inter-colonial passenger steamer, and carried nearly two hundred people. A ship's look-out managed to cry out "Breakers ahead!", but it was too late, and the ship ploughed on straight ahead and was broken on the rocks of West King Island. Within minutes the ship took on
1728-587: The mouth of the river. Thomas Frederick Walker died in 1987 and the Harbour Master's position was taken on by his son, Thomas Christopher Walker who still holds this position as of 2016. The position has been held by the Walker family for over 100 years. Flooding poses a threat in the lower Awanui Catchment due to the low lying topography. The risk of flooding is particularly notable in the towns of Kaitaia and Awanui . Northland Regional Council monitors
1776-499: The open sea. The race for the survivors was on. The Three Kings Islands are located at the very tip of the North Island. The Greyhound was the first ship to commence the search and lifted three dead men from the water, later identified from documents in their clothing as Messer's Green, Parker and C. Johnson. Captain Subritzky wanted to hand the bodies over to the SS Clansman and continue searching further out to sea. However,
1824-498: The party stumbled overland through the scrub to the Houhora Hotel to raise the alarm. The Evans family sent a telegram to Auckland and a rescue fleet was raised. HMS Penguin , SS Omapere , and SS Clansman were despatched from Auckland and took part in the search and rescue, as did the auxiliary schooner of the Subritzky fleet, the Greyhound . Meanwhile, at Houhora the locals took things into their own hands. They despatched
1872-561: The township. The traditional name of Awanui was Kaiwaka and Awanui proper refers to the "River at Kaiwaka". Awanui had an estimated population of 650 as of June 2024. The Tangata Whenua of the locality are represented by two neighbouring marae . Mahimaru Marae is located on State Highway 10, representing the Ngai Takoto hapu. Further along State Highway 10 is Kareponia Marae and the Patukoraha hapu o Ngati Kahu Iwi For much of
1920-431: The tree and down its roots into the sea bed. They are said to surface again on Ōhau and say a last farewell to New Zealand before going on to Hawaiki. The islands have a volcanic origin. In 1945, G. T. S. Baylis made a remarkable discovery on the Three Kings Islands, when he found the last remaining specimen anywhere of a tree which is now called Pennantia baylisiana , a kaikomako. It was recognised internationally as
1968-661: The western part, while the peninsula is up to 184 m high near its western cliffs. The southern portion consists of the Tasman Valley, a series of rolling hills that drain into the Tasman Stream. Most of the Māori archaeological features on the islands are found in this area. A smaller island about 0.10 square kilometres (0.039 sq mi) in size and reaching a height of 111 metres (364 ft), approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) northeast of Manawatāwhi. The island
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2016-483: The westernmost of the Princes Islands. It is 177m high, surrounded by 40-130m high cliffs. The island plays an important part in the traditional Māori belief that the spirits of dead Māori return to their Pacific homeland of Hawaiki. Near Cape Reinga on the mainland, sometimes translated as the underworld, is a gnarled Pōhutukawa tree reputed to be more than 800 years old. The spirits are believed to journey to
2064-462: The while yelling "The Elingamite's gone down! The Elingamite's gone down!" "Where's she gone down son?" asked Captain Subritzky. "She hit the Three Kings, sir," he replied. After checking his pocket watch, Captain Subritzky realised that the tides were all wrong and the bar at the harbour entrance was hardly covered by the incoming sea. He hurried to the Greyhound , roused the crew and made ready for sea wearing sea-boots and pyjamas. They poled down
2112-411: The world at Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua . Some Te Aupōuri traditions associate the name of the island, Manawatāwhi ("panting breath"), with the ancestor Rauru, who swam to the islands and arrived exhausted. Members of Ngāti Kurī would periodically come to the islands as a refuge during times of warfare, and to harvest hāpuku , seabirds and eggs. `Most of the larger islands were inhabited, and
2160-813: The world's rarest and thus most endangered tree. Extremely careful propagation in New Zealand has resulted in the species being reliably established, but it continues to be carefully monitored. The islands were made a wildlife sanctuary in 1995. Other plants endemic to the islands include Tecomanthe speciosa and Elingamita johnsonii . The Three Kings have extremely high levels of endemism , even compared to other isolated islands. About 35% of its beetle species are found nowhere else, and there are six endemic genera: Gourlayia ( Carabidae ), Heterodoxa and Pseudopisalia (both Staphylinidae ), Partystona and Zomedes (both Tenebrionidae ) and Tribasileus ( Anthribidae ). There are probably another seven undescribed endemic genera. Falla's skink ( Oligosoma fallai )
2208-490: Was dredged, and in places straightened, for flood control. Regular cargo scows included the Coronation, Tiri and Kapuni. Because of their shallow draught these scows were often assisted around the river bends by the work launch Ann, piloted by Harbourmaster Thomas George (Tom) Walker and later by his son Thomas Frederick (Larry) Walker. This family also operated the marine radio station ZLNF Awanui Radio, located at Unahi near
2256-457: Was spoken by 94.8%, Māori language by 13.0%, and other languages by 1.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 6.1, compared with 28.8% nationally. Religious affiliations were 36.5% Christian , 1.7% Hindu , and 13.0% Māori religious beliefs . People who answered that they had no religion were 38.3%, and 9.6% of people did not answer
2304-482: Was that 132 (48.9%) people were employed full-time, 36 (13.3%) were part-time, and 12 (4.4%) were unemployed. Awanui School is a contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 40 students as of August 2024. Awanui School first opened in 1872 as a native school , and moved to its current site in 1915. Te Rangi Āniwaniwa is a composite school serving years 1-15, with a roll of 193 students as of August 2024. Te Rangi Āniwaniwa opened in 1993, and teaches entirely in
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