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Galatea Kuhawaea(Māori) | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
 Galatea, looking southwest along the Ikawhenua range | |
 | |
| Coordinates:38°24′42″S176°44′24″E / 38.4117°S 176.7400°E /-38.4117; 176.7400 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
| Ward | Te Urewera General Ward |
| Community | Murupara Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Whakatāne District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| Area | |
• Total | 102.65 km2 (39.63 sq mi) |
| Population (2018 Census)[2] | |
• Total | 444 |
| • Density | 4.3/km2 (11/sq mi) |
Galatea (Māori:Kuhawaea) is a settlement in theWhakatāne District in theBay of Plenty region of theNorth Island of New Zealand.[3]
The forested hills and mountains of the Ikawhenua Range and in particular Mount Tāwhiuau stand guard on the eastern flank of theGalatea Plains or Basin, an area surrounding the village. To the west, and over theRangitaiki River stretch the 120,000 acres (490 km2) of theKaingaroa Forest.
Galatea is in three surveyed SA1 statistical areas which covers a summed total of 102.65 km2 (39.63 sq mi).[1] The SA1 areas are a part of the Galatea statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 438 | — |
| 2013 | 438 | +0.00% |
| 2018 | 444 | +0.27% |
| Source:[2] | ||
The SA1 area had a population of 444 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (1.37%) since the2013 census, and the2006 census. There were 165 households, comprising 222 males and 222 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 33.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 120 people (27.0%) aged under 15 years, 78 (17.6%) aged 15 to 29, 204 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (9.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 83.8% European/Pākehā, 29.7%Māori, 2.7% Pacific Peoples, 1.4%Asian, and 2.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[2]
Galatea statistical area includesMinginui, and surrounds but does not includeMurupara. It covers 2,199.70 km2 (849.31 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,610 as of June 2024,[4] with a population density of 0.73 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,431 | — |
| 2013 | 1,320 | −1.15% |
| 2018 | 1,407 | +1.28% |
| Source:[5] | ||
Galatea statistical area had a population of 1,407 at the2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 87 people (6.6%) since the2013 census, and a decrease of 24 people (−1.7%) since the2006 census. There were 498 households, comprising 714 males and 693 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 34.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 378 people (26.9%) aged under 15 years, 264 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 624 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (10.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 53.3% European/Pākehā, 60.1%Māori, 3.6%Pacific peoples, 1.1%Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 4.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.5% had no religion, 30.7% wereChristian, 17.9% hadMāori religious beliefs and 0.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 114 (11.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 303 (29.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 108 people (10.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 459 (44.6%) people were employed full-time, 171 (16.6%) were part-time, and 87 (8.5%) were unemployed.[5]
The southern boundary of the Galatea Plains is theWhirinaki River, which descends fromTe Urewera and joins theRangitāiki River below the township ofMurupara. A few miles downstream on the western side of this trout-filled river, Fort Galatea was built, where from their lofty lookout the constables living there were able to survey the tracks used by the manyMāori who passed by on their way from or to the coast nearWhakatāne.
To the north the Ikawhenuas lower and gradually close in to reach the right hand bank of the Rangitāiki River, leaving only enough room for anaccess road from the valley over "Snake Hill" to the Rangitāiki Plains.
| Climate data for Galatea (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) | 24.0 (75.2) | 21.9 (71.4) | 18.7 (65.7) | 15.7 (60.3) | 13.3 (55.9) | 12.6 (54.7) | 13.6 (56.5) | 15.4 (59.7) | 17.7 (63.9) | 19.9 (67.8) | 22.2 (72.0) | 18.3 (64.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.4 (65.1) | 18.6 (65.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 13.1 (55.6) | 10.1 (50.2) | 8.0 (46.4) | 7.2 (45.0) | 8.3 (46.9) | 10.3 (50.5) | 12.5 (54.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 16.9 (62.4) | 12.9 (55.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.8 (55.0) | 13.2 (55.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 7.5 (45.5) | 4.5 (40.1) | 2.6 (36.7) | 1.8 (35.2) | 3.0 (37.4) | 5.2 (41.4) | 7.2 (45.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.9 (53.4) | 7.4 (45.4) |
| Source: NIWA[6] | |||||||||||||
The coastal area of the Bay of Plenty has been occupied by various tribes of Māori arriving in canoes from the islands ofPolynesia. As more canoes arrived, the newcomers either fitted in with the peaceful residents or overcame them. They fished when the season was right, then moved inland to trap pigeons, gather fernroots, and catch eels. At these times they reached Waiōhau, Galatea, Murupara andTe Whāiti.
When visits of European trading ships became more common, the Galatea Māori would travel down the river with goods to barter. Flax was their main commodity and axes, spades, hoes and later, guns and clothing were given in return. These people wereNgāti Manawa and their neighbours in the adjoining Urewera forested hills were theNgāi Tūhoe, or "Children of the Mist", who often raided the Ngāti Manawa and on occasion drove them out of the area.
Pōmare, chief of theNgāpuhi fromNorthland was in the habit of travelling south to fight with the Bay of Plenty tribes and after attacking all the pā on the plains, chased the Tūhoe back into the Urewera hills. He returned home with his canoes loaded with spoils and heads of the vanquished, only to return a year later The Ngāti Manawa were relieved to see the Ngāpuhi disappear up theHoromanga River to meet up with Pōmare's party who travelled up the Waimana River into the mountainous Urewera lands.
A principal chief of Tūhoe sent a messenger to Pōmare asking for a meeting at which the threat of war between the tribes ceased and this led to continuing peace between Ngāpuhi and Tūhoe.
ThePai Mārire religion started inTaranaki and was introduced to the Bay of Plenty in 1865 by two of its prophets who met the Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa andNgāti Whare tribes with the object of explaining the "new religion". Some accepted and were initiated around the head of Captain P.W.J. Lloyd who had been killed in Taranaki. InŌpōtiki, the Rev.Carl Völkner, a much loved missionary was murdered byHauhau, and later ahalf-caste interpreter, James Fulloon was murdered at Whakatāne. Open hostility to "pākehā" was shown over a wide area, and killings occurred on both sides.
This is where Fort Galatea came into use.HMS Galatea at that time was visiting the country under the command ofPrince Alfred,Duke of Edinburgh. and it is from this ship that the name was derived. Soldiers were stationed at the Fort in readiness to march into the Urewera forests to fight the Hauhau, and with them a renegade by the name ofTe Kooti who had been captured after a battle in thePoverty Bay area. He was transported as a prisoner to theChatham Islands when he soon became the leader of the prisoners. During a riot, they escaped, seized a schooner and reached the mainland where they continued the war against the pākehā. Te Kooti was ruthless and in complete control of the Hauhau, even though he was not one of them, but was a prophet and leader of what was to become theRingatū religion.
Galatea School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[7][8] with a roll of 131 as of November 2024.[9] The school opened in 1935.[10]