Kūaotunu
Name
The name of the settlement is of Māori origin, meaning ‘to inspire fear in young animals’ or ‘roasted young’, probably relating to the good hunting and fishing grounds in the area. In 2019, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Kūaotunu.
Demographics
Kūaotunu is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 2.51 km (0.97 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 250 as of June 2023, with a population density of 100 people per km. Kūaotunu is part of the larger Mercury Bay North statistical area.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 225 | — |
2013 | 213 | −0.78% |
2018 | 234 | +1.90% |
Source: |
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 3.63 km (1.40 sq mi). Using that boundary, Kūaotunu had a population of 234 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (9.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 9 people (4.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 84 households, comprising 117 males and 111 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female, with 36 people (15.4%) aged under 15 years, 30 (12.8%) aged 15 to 29, 126 (53.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.3% European/Pākehā, 11.5% Māori, 1.3% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 67.9% had no religion, 20.5% were Christian and 5.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (21.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 18 (9.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 24 people (12.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 84 (42.4%) people were employed full-time, 48 (24.2%) were part-time, and 3 (1.5%) were unemployed.
Tourism
Kūaotunu is a popular destination for summer holidays for tourists on the Coromandel tourist circuit. It is one of the most northern beaches on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula and is popular with campers, surfers and beach lovers.
Mining
The local mines and their stamping batteries, which were installed in the late 19th century, had hopeful names: Try Fluke, Carbine, Mariposa, John Bull, Great Mercury, Red Mercury, Irene, Waiawa, Otama and Kapai-Vermont.
The Try Fluke Mine was a substantial gold mine close to Kūaotunu. Its name goes back to its discovery in 1889, when prospectors asked the Maori Charles Kawhine, known locally as Coffin, what he was doing, and he replied: "Oh, try fluke." At least this was understood instead of "Tryin’ luck", and the name stuck to the mine, which was established there.