Eskdale is a rural settlement in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located north of Napier on State Highway 5,[1] near the mouth of the Esk River.[2]

Eskdale
Settlement
Coordinates: 39.403450°S 176.852263°E / -39.403450; 176.852263
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay Region
Territorial authority	Hastings District
Ward	Mohaka
Postcode(s)	4182

The valley has many vineyards, wineries, orchards and fishing spots.[2] The local Eskdale War Memorial Church was designed by James Chapman-Taylor,[3] and dedicated to Percival Moore Beattie, a local man killed during World War I.[4][5]

The river has a history of flooding.[2] Flash flooding inundated the settlement in March 2018,[6] leaving most of the local holiday park underwater.[7]

A wildfire also broke out near Eskdale in March 2019.[8]

Demographics

The statistical area of Puketapu-Eskdale, which covers 245 square kilometres and also includes Puketapu and Whirinaki, had a population of 2,673 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 489 people (22.4%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 621 people (30.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 915 households. There were 1,392 males and 1,284 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 45.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 480 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 414 (15.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,395 (52.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 384 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.3% European/Pākehā, 13.6% Māori, 5.2% Pacific peoples, 1.2% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 17.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 37.3% were Christian, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 2.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 453 (20.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 348 (15.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,272 (58.0%) people were employed full-time, 363 (16.6%) were part-time, and 39 (1.8%) were unemployed.[9]

Education

Eskdale School is a co-educational state primary school,[10] with a roll of 320 as of July 2022.[11][12]

Hukarere Girls' College is a co-educational state primary school,[13] with a roll of 76 as of July 2022.[11][14]

References