Taieri Mouth facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Taieri Mouth
Rural settlement
Fishing boats moored at Taieri Mouth
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Territorial authority	Clutha District
Ward	Bruce
Electorates	Taieri Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Area
• Total	3.25 km2 (1.25 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	280
• Density	86.2/km2 (223/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode	9091
Local iwi	Ngāi Tahu

Taieri Mouth is a small fishing village located at the mouth of the Taieri River in New Zealand. It's a peaceful spot where the river meets the ocean. Just a short distance offshore, you can see Taieri Island, also known as Moturata.

The village has a lovely white sand beach perfect for swimming and several areas where families can enjoy a picnic. Moturata Island is a special landmark that you can walk to when the tide is low. Always be careful, though, as the tides can change very quickly! Another cool feature is the millennium walking track. This path follows the Taieri River from its mouth through a lower gorge all the way to Henley.

Taieri Mouth is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest of central Dunedin. It's located along the Southern Scenic Route, which is a famous road for exploring New Zealand's beautiful landscapes. The village is part of the Clutha District and is close to Lake Waihola, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east. Just south of Taieri Mouth is a smaller place called Taieri Beach, and often, people think of them as one combined settlement.

History of Taieri Mouth

Early Māori Life

Long ago, Māori lived at Taieri Mouth. Archaeologists have found moa bones there, which tells us it was an important site during the early period of Māori culture, known as the Moa Hunter period.

Māori Oral Traditions

Around the early 1700s, an important leader named Tuwiriroa moved to the area from Tititea, near modern Queenstown. He built a fortified village, called a pa, named Motupara, close to Taieri Mouth. Another leader, Tukiauau, had already built his own pa, Whakaraupuka, further inland by Lake Waihola.

A story tells of Tuwiriroa's daughter, Haki Te Kura, who was famous for swimming across Lake Wakatipu. Tukiauau had a handsome son named Korokiwhiti. Haki Te Kura and Korokiwhiti fell in love, but Haki Te Kura's father, the chief of the Taieri Mouth pa, did not approve.

Later, Tukiauau decided to move his people south. As they traveled down the river in their canoes, Haki Te Kura tried to join Korokiwhiti. Sadly, she was hurt and died. This event led to more conflict between the two groups.

European Settlers

Māori continued to live in the area. In 1843, Edward Shortland noted a small Māori settlement at Taieri Mouth, and Māori were still living there in 1850. One of the first European settlers was a former whaler known as 'The Hermit of Taieri Mouth,' whose real name was John Edward O'Neil. He was known for being strong and lively.

Recent Discoveries

On July 4, 2024, something very rare washed ashore at Taieri Mouth: an intact 5 metres (16 ft) long male spade-toothed whale. This type of whale, Mesoplodon traversii, is almost unknown to science, making it a very special discovery!

People of Taieri Mouth

Taieri Mouth is considered a rural settlement. It covers an area of 3.25 km² (1.25 sq mi). As of June 2023, an estimated 280 people lived there.

Population Changes

The population of Taieri Mouth has grown over the years.

• In 2006, there were 189 people.
• In 2013, the population was 195.
• By the 2018 New Zealand census, the population had increased to 252 people. This was a jump of 57 people (29.2%) since 2013.

Who Lives Here?

In 2018, there were 108 households in Taieri Mouth. There were slightly more males (132) than females (123). The average age of people living here was 52.8 years.

• About 15.5% of the people were under 15 years old.
• About 7.1% were between 15 and 29 years old.
• About 48.8% were between 30 and 64 years old.
• About 28.6% were 65 years or older.

Most people in Taieri Mouth are of European/Pākehā background (95.2%). Some people also identify as Māori (10.7%), Pasifika (1.2%), or other ethnicities (3.6%). People can identify with more than one ethnicity.

Beliefs and Work

When asked about religion, 54.8% of people said they had no religion. About 29.8% were Christian, and a small number had Māori religious beliefs or other religions.

For those aged 15 and older:

• 16.9% had a university degree or higher qualification.
• 26.8% had no formal qualifications.
• The average income was $28,000.
• About 38.0% worked full-time, 21.1% worked part-time, and 1.4% were unemployed.

Education

Taieri Beach School is the local school for children in Taieri Mouth. It's a school for both boys and girls, teaching students from Year 1 to Year 8. The school first opened its doors in 1862. As of February 2024, it has a roll of 2 students.

Climate

Images for kids

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  Colourful shed at Taieri Mouth

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  Bridge across the estuary of the Taieri River, Taieri Mouth