Akitio
Encyclopedia
Akitio is a coastal community in the Wairarapa
Region of the lower east coast of the North Island
of New Zealand
. The Akitio River
runs for approximately 35 kilometres in a southeast by northwest direction, leading to the town of Weber, on State Highway 52.
Akitio County, Est. 1911, was formerly governed from Pongaroa
, located approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) from Akitio Beach, and the Homesteads of Akitio, Marainanga, and Monaroa Stations.
The area originally (and as recently as 1908) was dominated by two estates, the Marainanga Estate, and the Akitio Estate; of 38000 acres (153.8 km²), and 50000 acres (202.3 km²) each respectively. The region has been partitioned and sub-divided during the past 100 years to consist of many single family sized blocks; from approximately 600 acres (2.4 km²), up to what remains of the original 'Akitio' Estate Station
, which remains the largest at approximately 9000 acres (36.4 km²) today.
Akitio Point approximately 1.5 km south of the river mouth, offers local fishermen a protective reef, where paua, crayfish and many types of game fish are easily caught. The Annual Easter Shark Hunt draws amateur and professional fisherman from all over the region.
'The Point' was historically home to three historic landing sheds, which held the thousands of bales of wool produced annually by the local sheep stations, and also served to receive fencing wire and other manufactured goods from the passing shipping.
A jetty, the remains of which characterise the low tide landscape, would run out into the surf to lighters that would ferry passengers and valuable cargo to and from the freighters. Wool was loaded onto lighters by bullock train. Several ships have been lost in the Akitio bay, including the Peladies (1,020 tonne) in 1899, parts of which can still be found at low tide or scattered around local historic landmarks. The beach remains a popular attraction for surfers and fishermen alike.
Public (or party line
) telephone connections were available at the main homesteads until as late as 1988/89, however private telephone wires between the riverside homesteads and the back block station quarters had been installed for over a century.
Riparian remnants of the old saw mills and the various hydro infrastructure survive to this day.
Dannevirke
, the modern service town for Akitio, is located 74 km inland from the coast, and is about an hour by car.
's KFC is presently situated. Prior to this, Steamer travel to Wellington
or Napier
was the preferred route to civilisation; although an active local community flourished, and more than five rugby
teams were competing for local bragging rights at the peak of labour-force employment.
Although travel by sea is no longer a routine necessity for residents, Akitio's connection to the river and the ocean have continued into the late 20th century through multi-sport events, as well as the sport of ocean racing
(see below).
In addition to Rugby Union, the Akitio Station Cricket Ground also hosted the English Cricket team, as Mr Armstrong, owner of the Akitio Estate, was a well connected man with a keen interest in the sport.
Women's Hockey team (2006–2008); and sister Charlotte Kight
is a current (2009) member of the national Silver Ferns
Netball team.
The Akitio Challenge, an event first run in 1990 contributes to the local school's (Est. 1893) endowment fund; although more recently provides funding for other community projects also.
, Condor of Bermuda
; to be taken anywhere in the South Pacific.
With a permanent population fluctuating somewhere between 30 and 300 persons, the predominant labour force participation statistics are gathered from those working outside the village.
Occuping the prime location, and incorporating the local Surf Lifesaving Facilities, is the Akitio Boat Club, which has included members such as Condor
campaigner, Bob Bell
.
The Community Centre, Fire Station, and Public Ablution Facilities are located opposite the local primary school in the centre of the community, about 2.5 km from the Akitio Homesteads, and about 1 km from the end of the 'point'.
The sealing of the road to Akitio from Dannevirke
was completed around 1997.
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
Region of the lower east coast of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Akitio River
Akitio River
The Akitio River is in the North Island of New Zealand.It flows generally southeast for 35 kilometres, entering the Pacific Ocean at Akitio to the south of Cape Turnagain on the east coast....
runs for approximately 35 kilometres in a southeast by northwest direction, leading to the town of Weber, on State Highway 52.
Akitio County, Est. 1911, was formerly governed from Pongaroa
Pongaroa
The small township of Pongaroa lies in Tararua, in the southeast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 110 kilometres southwest of Hastings and 200 kilometres northeast of Wellington. The nearest town is Pahiatua, 50 kilometres to the west. Popular Akitio Beach is 30 kilometres to the...
, located approximately 30 miles (48.3 km) from Akitio Beach, and the Homesteads of Akitio, Marainanga, and Monaroa Stations.
The area originally (and as recently as 1908) was dominated by two estates, the Marainanga Estate, and the Akitio Estate; of 38000 acres (153.8 km²), and 50000 acres (202.3 km²) each respectively. The region has been partitioned and sub-divided during the past 100 years to consist of many single family sized blocks; from approximately 600 acres (2.4 km²), up to what remains of the original 'Akitio' Estate Station
Station (New Zealand agriculture)
A station, in the context of New Zealand agriculture, is a large farm dedicated to the grazing of sheep and cattle. The use of the word for the farm or farm buildings date back to the mid-nineteenth century....
, which remains the largest at approximately 9000 acres (36.4 km²) today.
Infrastructure and communication
At its peak, shipping would call once a week to the mouth of the Akitio River, which, before the region's conversion to farmland (and subsequent erosion), could provide safe anchorage in storms due to the tidal ebb and flow reaching 10 km inland, constantly flushing debris and minimal sediment from the river. Today, the river-mouth can nearly be passed on foot at low slack-water, approximately in front of the old harbour master/postmaster's cottage site; and the estuary flanking the three historic homesteads is now characterised by mud-flats at low tide.Akitio Point approximately 1.5 km south of the river mouth, offers local fishermen a protective reef, where paua, crayfish and many types of game fish are easily caught. The Annual Easter Shark Hunt draws amateur and professional fisherman from all over the region.
'The Point' was historically home to three historic landing sheds, which held the thousands of bales of wool produced annually by the local sheep stations, and also served to receive fencing wire and other manufactured goods from the passing shipping.
A jetty, the remains of which characterise the low tide landscape, would run out into the surf to lighters that would ferry passengers and valuable cargo to and from the freighters. Wool was loaded onto lighters by bullock train. Several ships have been lost in the Akitio bay, including the Peladies (1,020 tonne) in 1899, parts of which can still be found at low tide or scattered around local historic landmarks. The beach remains a popular attraction for surfers and fishermen alike.
Public (or party line
Party line (telephony)
In twentieth-century telephone systems, a party line is an arrangement in which two or more customers are connected directly to the same local loop. Prior to World War II in the United States, party lines were the primary way residential subscribers acquired local telephone service...
) telephone connections were available at the main homesteads until as late as 1988/89, however private telephone wires between the riverside homesteads and the back block station quarters had been installed for over a century.
Riparian remnants of the old saw mills and the various hydro infrastructure survive to this day.
Dannevirke
Dannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
, the modern service town for Akitio, is located 74 km inland from the coast, and is about an hour by car.
Sport and community
In living memory, the journey into Dannevirke would take three hours, with coastal families making the trip 'to town' infrequently - staying for several days at a time in the local Hotel located where DannevirkeDannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
's KFC is presently situated. Prior to this, Steamer travel to Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
or Napier
Napier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
was the preferred route to civilisation; although an active local community flourished, and more than five rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams were competing for local bragging rights at the peak of labour-force employment.
Although travel by sea is no longer a routine necessity for residents, Akitio's connection to the river and the ocean have continued into the late 20th century through multi-sport events, as well as the sport of ocean racing
Ocean racing
Ocean Racing may refer to either yacht racing, in particular of the Maxi yachts; or multisport events with a significant Ocean related Swim or Kayak...
(see below).
- Notable Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
players of the contemporary era are brothers Brad and Clint NewlandClint NewlandClint Newland is a New Zealand Rugby Union player, currently playing with the . He was born in Dannevirke and attended New Plymouth Boys' High School as a boarder. Newland has been playing for Hawkes Bay since 1999, where he debuted against Poverty Bay. He played in every match until 2007 when he...
, residing during their youth at Akitio Station.
In addition to Rugby Union, the Akitio Station Cricket Ground also hosted the English Cricket team, as Mr Armstrong, owner of the Akitio Estate, was a well connected man with a keen interest in the sport.
National Teams
Bridget Kight, of Akitio Station (great granddaughter to Mr Armstrong), played internationally for New Zealand's Black SticksBlack Sticks
The Black Sticks Men are New Zealand's men's national field hockey team. They upset Australia to win gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, becoming the first non-Asian/European team to clinch the gold.-Summer Olympics:*1956 – Sixth place...
Women's Hockey team (2006–2008); and sister Charlotte Kight
Charlotte Kight
Charlotte Kight is a New Zealand netball player. Kight started in the National Bank Cup with the Western Flyers in 2005, under head coach Yvette McCausland-Durie. She played with the Flyers for two years, before moving to the Canterbury Flames for the final year of the competition in 2007...
is a current (2009) member of the national Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
Netball team.
The Akitio Challenge, an event first run in 1990 contributes to the local school's (Est. 1893) endowment fund; although more recently provides funding for other community projects also.
Water Sports
The first several "Akitio Challenge" events caught the attention of the national news media when participation was promoted through a lottery prize draw for a ten day luxury cruising vacation on the famous ex-maxi yachtMaxi yacht
A maxi yacht usually refers to a racing sailboat of at least in length. It is also a Swedish brand of smaller sailing yachts.-Origin:The term maxi originated with the International Offshore Rule rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a...
, Condor of Bermuda
Condor of Bermuda
Condor of Bermuda was a maxi yacht campaigning under the leadership and funding of London based international businessman Bob Bell. Originally called "Condor" but re-named "Heath's Condor" for the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race after Bell's association with Heath's Insurance Co...
; to be taken anywhere in the South Pacific.
Sports and Social Clubs
On a less formal tone, the Annual Akitio [motor] Bike Ride proves to be a popular event with the locals, and a keen chance to share and compare notes on stock performance and pasture management across the region.Industry
Akitio is primarily a farming district, specialising in sheep and beef production. Additional local industries are the crayfish; with annual quotas, and storage tanks at the Akitio Station Airfield, earth works, and limited boat repairs/shipwright services.With a permanent population fluctuating somewhere between 30 and 300 persons, the predominant labour force participation statistics are gathered from those working outside the village.
Public facilities
Opposite the site of the last (of three) remaining landing sheds (controversially demolished around 1991) is the Akitio Point Camping Ground, and the Akitio Surf Beach.Occuping the prime location, and incorporating the local Surf Lifesaving Facilities, is the Akitio Boat Club, which has included members such as Condor
Condor of Bermuda
Condor of Bermuda was a maxi yacht campaigning under the leadership and funding of London based international businessman Bob Bell. Originally called "Condor" but re-named "Heath's Condor" for the 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race after Bell's association with Heath's Insurance Co...
campaigner, Bob Bell
Bob Bell
Bob or Bobby Bell may refer to:*Bob Bell , former team principal and technical director of the Renault Formula One team and current Mercedes GP technical director....
.
The Community Centre, Fire Station, and Public Ablution Facilities are located opposite the local primary school in the centre of the community, about 2.5 km from the Akitio Homesteads, and about 1 km from the end of the 'point'.
The sealing of the road to Akitio from Dannevirke
Dannevirke
Dannevirke , is a rural service town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the major town of the administrative Tararua District, the easternmost of the districts in which the Regional Council has responsibilities...
was completed around 1997.