Awapuni, Gisborne

Awapuni is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Gisborne, located in the southwest of the city.^[3] It is named after the Awapuni lagoon, where the Waipaoa River runs into the ocean.^[4] The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "blocked-up river" for Awapuni.^[5]

Awapuni
Suburb
Coordinates: 38.6676°S 178.0003°E / -38.6676; 178.0003
Country	New Zealand
City	Gisborne
Local authority	Gisborne District Council
Electoral ward	Tairāwhiti General Ward
Area [1]
• Land	869 ha (2,147 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	1,090
Airports	Gisborne Airport

Makaraka	Elgin	Gisborne Central
	Awapuni	Victoria
	(Poverty Bay)

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.^[6] It includes the Whareroa meeting house.^[7]

Demographics

The statistical area of Makaraka-Awapuni, which also includes Makaraka, covers 8.69 km² (3.36 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,090 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 126 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	864	—
2013	828	−0.61%
2018	975	+3.32%
2023	1,077	+2.01%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 8.18 km2. Source: [8][9]

Makaraka-Awapuni had a population of 1,077 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 102 people (10.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 249 people (30.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 579 males, 495 females, and 6 people of other genders in 372 dwellings.^[10] 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 192 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 192 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 489 (45.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 204 (18.9%) aged 65 or older.^[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.4% European (Pākehā); 47.4% Māori; 7.0% Pasifika; 4.5% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); 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% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[8]

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.^[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 486 (54.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 246 (27.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people (5.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 438 (49.5%) full-time, 135 (15.3%) part-time, and 27 (3.1%) unemployed.^[8]

Parks

"Midway Beach" redirects here. For the community in the US state of Iowa, see Midway Beach, Iowa.

Awapuni has three sports grounds: Awapuni Stadium, the Oval Reserve cricket and rugby ground, and Watson Park.^[11]

Midway Beach includes a beach, barbecue area, horse riding area, jet skiing area, kite surfing area, dog walking area, and the Kopututea Sand Dunes.^[11]

Adventure Playground includes a picnic area and public toilets.^[11]

Education

Awapuni School is a Year 1–6 co-educational state primary school^[12][13] with a roll of 282 as of July 2025.^[14][15] It opened in 1927.^[16]