View source for Awatere River

{{For|the river in the Gisborne region|Awatere River (Gisborne)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox river
| name               = Awatere River
| native_name        ={{native name|mi|Awatere}}
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = translation of "swift river"
| nickname           =
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| image              = Medway Bridge, Awatere Valley.jpg
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<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[New Zealand]]
| subdivision_type2  = Region
| subdivision_name2  = [[Marlborough Region|Marlborough]]
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|length_km=110
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| mouth              = 
| mouth_location     = [[Cook Strait]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|-41.608|174.167|region:NZ-MBH_type:river|display=title,inline}}
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}}

The '''Awatere River''' is a large river flowing through [[Marlborough Region|Marlborough]], New Zealand. Flowing along the trace of the [[active fault|active]] [[Awatere Fault]], it runs northeast through a straight valley to the west of the [[Kaikōura Ranges|Inland Kaikōura mountains]]. This valley is parallel with that of the [[Waiau Toa / Clarence River]], {{convert|20|km|mi}} to the south.

It flows for {{convert|110|km|mi}} from its source in the mountainous interior to reach [[Cook Strait]] close to the town of [[Seddon, New Zealand|Seddon]].

The New Zealand [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] gives a translation of "swift river" for ''Awatere'' in [[Māori language|Māori]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/1000-maori-place-names|title=1000 Māori place names|publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=6 August 2019}}</ref>

==Demographics==
The Awatere River valley, which corresponds to the statistical area of Awatere, covers {{Convert|3273.52|km2||abbr=on}},<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=19 August 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> and includes the settlements of [[Seddon, New Zealand|Seddon]] and [[Ward, New Zealand|Ward]]. It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Awatere|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Awatere|y}}|R}}/3273.52|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|1,608|2013|1,626|2018|1,617|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}}
Awatere had a population of 1,617 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], a decrease of 9 people (−0.6%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 9 people (0.6%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 594 households, comprising 855 males and 759 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.13 males per female. The median age was 42.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 324 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 222 (13.7%) aged 15 to 29, 822 (50.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 246 (15.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.8% European/[[Pākehā]], 13.2% [[Māori people|Māori]], 4.6% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 1.9% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.6% had no religion, 37.7% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.2% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]] and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (13.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 249 (19.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 177 people (13.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 795 (61.5%) people were employed full-time, 231 (17.9%) were part-time, and 21 (1.6%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Awatere (307000)|awatere|Awatere}}</ref>

==Awatere River bridges==
[[File:Seddon Awatere River Bridges.JPG|thumb|Awatere River Bridges]]
In 1887, the Awatere River was without any bridge crossing and at the time was noted by Parliament to be the only river not bridged between [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] and [[Bluff, New Zealand|Bluff]]. Planning of a 325-metre joint road and rail bridge began in 1896, designed by Peter Seton Hay, and construction by Scott Brothers Ltd, a [[Christchurch]] based company, began two years after. Back in those times, bridge building lacked the modern engineering technology that is used today, and much of the construction was done via human and animal power. The laying of caissons which formed the foundations of the bridge was notoriously treacherous to workers at the risk of developing [[Decompression sickness|the bends]] due to long exposure of working in pressurised conditions. Construction was completed on 18 July 1901.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/80332495/awatere-river-bridge-brought-nose-bleeds-black-outs-and-risk-of-the-bends.html |title=Awatere River bridge brought nose bleeds, black outs and risk of 'the bends' | first=Roger| last=Hanson| work=Stuff | date=7 June 2016 | accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref> The original road and rail bridge was opened on 10 October 1902. Construction took three years at the cost of £22,500.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marlborough.museums.org.nz/mhs/vewebsite1/exhibit4/vexmain4.htm |title=Awatere Road Rail Bridge 1902 to 2007 |accessdate=7 March 2016 | publisher=Marlborough Museums| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170410132832/http://www.marlborough.museums.org.nz/mhs/vewebsite1/exhibit4/vexmain4.htm | archive-date=10 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A further £118 was spent to add a wind break to protect trains.

[[New Zealand State Highway 1|State Highway 1]] crosses the Awatere River at its current point just north of Seddon. The initial bridge remained the crossing until 2007 when most recently traffic signals were added to either direction to control vehicles on the platform, which was only wide enough for one lane of traffic. A new $15 million two-lane road bridge was constructed with the railway being the sole use of the original bridge.  The new road bridge opened to traffic in December 2008 and was officially opened on 31 January 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/56271/New-Awatere-Bridge-opens-today |title=New Awatere Bridge opens today |date=31 January 2009| work=Stuff|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref> The vehicle deck on the original bridge was then decommissioned as it was deemed too expensive to retain its use for pedestrians and cyclists.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 November 2020|title=Awatere Road Rail Bridge|url=https://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/marlborough/information/archictecture/bridges/awatere-road-rail-bridge/|url-status=live|access-date=17 October 2021|website=Marlborough Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215065534/https://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/marlborough/information/archictecture/bridges/awatere-road-rail-bridge/ |archive-date=15 February 2018 }}</ref> 
[[File:Awatere River road-rail bridge cycle deck.jpg|thumb|Awatere River road-rail bridge cycle deck]]
However, the former single-lane vehicle deck below the rail deck was restored and re-opened for cyclists and walkers in December 2023, as part of the [[Whale Trail (New Zealand)|Whale Trail]], a [[long-distance trail]] under construction between [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] and [[Kaikōura]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brew |first=Andy |date=23 March 2023 |title=Makeover for 'beautiful' Awatere bridge |work=[[The Press]] |page=16 |id={{ProQuest|2789269121}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=15 December 2023 |title=Awatere Rail Bridge opens to Whale Trail walkers and cyclists |url= |access-date= |work=[[Marlborough Express]] |page=5 |via= |id={{ProQuest|2901468670}}}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.marlboroughonline.co.nz/community/index.mvc?ArticleID=23 Awatere River information]

{{Marlborough Region}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awatere River}}
[[Category:Rivers of the Marlborough District]]
[[Category:State Highway 1 (New Zealand)]]
[[Category:Rivers of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of New Zealand]]