# Dannevirke

Dannevirke (lit. "work of the Danes", a reference to Danevirke; Māori: Taniwaka or Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua, the area where the town is), is a rural service town in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of the North Island, New Zealand. It is the main centre of the Tararua District.
The surrounding area, a catchment and source of the Manawatū River (approximately 20 Min drive north of town) has developed into dairy, beef cattle and sheep farming, which now provides the major income for the town's population of 5,680.

## History

Before European settlers arrived in the 1870s, the line of descent for Māori in the area was from the Kurahaupō waka. The tribe of the area is Rangitāne, with geographic distinction to Te Rangiwhakaewa in the immediate Dannevirke region. The first known 'Aotea' meeting house was established approximately 15 generations ago (from 2010) followed by the building of a marae at Makirikiri near Dannevirke at about the same time as the first Nordic settlers arrived from Napier and Hawkes Bay.
The town was founded on 15 October 1872 by Danish, Norwegian and Swedish settlers, adherents of Scandinavism, who arrived at the port of Napier and moved inland. The settlers, who arrived under the Public Works Act, built their initial settlement in a clearing of the Seventy Mile Bush.
The Dannevirke after which the town was named is an extensive Viking Age fortification line in Denmark which had a strong emotive symbolic role for 19th-century Danes, especially after the site had fallen into German hands in the German-Danish War of 1864 – a recent and very painful event for these settlers. The settlement quickly earned the nickname of "sleeper town", as the town's purpose was to provide tōtara sleepers for the Napier–Wellington railway line, which had a station in the town from 1884. At one stage the area had 50 operating sawmills. After the native bush was cleared, the land was turned into pasture for grazing animals.
On 27 October 1917, much of the town's business district was destroyed by fire. The fire had started in the Andrew's Hotel on the corner of High and Station Streets at about 2pm. Flames blew across the road engulfing the Dannevirke Co-operative Association's store. As the fire spread through adjoining shops another hotel, the Masonic was engulfed. By about 5pm the Dannevirke and Woodville Fire Brigades, along with assistance from the local community had brought the fires under control. In total 27 business premises and 2 hotels were destroyed with damage estimated at £200,000.

## Demographics

Dannevirke covers 6.82 km$^2$ (2.63 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 5,680 as of June 2024, with a population density of 833 people per km$^2$.
Dannevirke had a population of 5,508 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 429 people (8.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 51 people (−0.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,178 households, comprising 2,613 males and 2,892 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female, with 1,137 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 978 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 2,166 (39.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,233 (22.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 75.2% European/Pākehā, 33.1% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, 3.9% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.8% had no religion, 37.1% were Christian, 5.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 330 (7.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,380 (31.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 255 people (5.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,743 (39.9%) people were employed full-time, 666 (15.2%) were part-time, and 204 (4.7%) were unemployed.
Individual statistical areas :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Households | Median age | Median income |
| Dannevirke West | 2.07 | 2,148 | 1,038 | 885 | 45.2 years | $24,900 |
| Dannevirke East | 4.74 | 3,360 | 709 | 1,293 | 40.6 years | $22,700 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 37.4 years | $31,800 |

### Papatawa statistical area

Papatawa statistical area covers 230.05 km$^2$ (88.82 sq mi) to the west of Dannevirke, but does not include Papatawa settlement. It had an estimated population of 1,350 as of June 2024, with a population density of 5.9 people per km$^2$.
The statistical area had a population of 1,302 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−1.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 9 people (0.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 486 households, comprising 669 males and 633 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 43.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 279 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 183 (14.1%) aged 15 to 29, 624 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 222 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 85.9% European/Pākehā, 22.6% Māori, 0.9% Pasifika, 2.1% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 8.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 45.6% had no religion, 44.0% were Christian, 2.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 117 (11.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 255 (24.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 162 people (15.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 573 (56.0%) people were employed full-time, 168 (16.4%) were part-time, and 18 (1.8%) were unemployed.

## Culture

Dannevirke has three marae (tribal meeting grounds) of the Rangitāne tribe and its hapū (sub-tribes); each marae has a wharenui (meeting house). Kaitoki marae is affiliated with the Ngāti Pakapaka and Ngāti Te Rangiwhakaewa hapū, and includes the Kaitoki Memorial Hall. Mākirikiri marae is affiliated with Ngāti Mutuahi and Ngāti Te Rangiwhakaewa hapū, and includes the Aotea Tuatoru wharenui. Whiti te Rā marae, also known as Poherau marae, is affiliated with Ngāti Mutuahi hapū, and includes Whiti te Rā wharenui.
Totara College hosts the Dannevirke Garden and Craft Expo, an annual event that has grown to a considerable size.

## Sport

Dannevirke has produced a number of sports men and women in a number of different disciplines, among them rugby player John Timu, who made New Zealand teams in both union and league. Ewen Chatfield, who was an important member of the successful New Zealand cricket team of the 1980s Hadlee-Coney-Crowe era, is from Dannevirke, as is former All Black Duncan Hales, who now resides in the United States.
Other Dannevirke All Blacks were Colin Loader (1950s), Blair Furlong (1970 to South Africa), Lui Paewai who is widely acknowledged as the youngest All Black in history at just 17 years old (1924 Invincibles) and whose brother, nephews and grand-nephews (Doc, Hepa, Nathan and Murdoch respectively) went on to have good careers for Hawkes Bay and the New Zealand Maori side, and Roy White (post-war All Black in 1946 and 1947). Other All Blacks who spent time in Dannevirke included 1981 All Black tourist to Romania and France Wayne Neville, who attended Dannevirke High School, and John Ashworth, who moved from Canterbury to a farm near Dannevirke late in his career.
The Dannevirke Sports Club and Aotea Sports Club are the major outlets for sport in the town with netball, cricket and soccer teams as well as a rugby team that compete in the Premier Manawatu Senior Competition and the Hawke's Bay 1st Division.

## Climate

Dannevirke has an Oceanic climate, (Köppen:Cfb). Due its high altitude the summer temperatures are often cooler compared to other Eastern North Island towns, such as Masterton, Napier and Gisborne, while in winter Dannevirke can regularly experience frosts as in other parts of New Zealand. Snow is rare, the latest snow to hit Dannevirke was July 13, 2017
Climate data for Dannevirke (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.5 (88.7) | 33.1 (91.6) | 31.2 (88.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 24.1 (75.4) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.0 (69.8) | 20.7 (69.3) | 24.1 (75.4) | 25.1 (77.2) | 29.5 (85.1) | 29.9 (85.8) | 33.1 (91.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) | 22.6 (72.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 17.4 (63.3) | 14.6 (58.3) | 12.0 (53.6) | 11.3 (52.3) | 12.3 (54.1) | 14.1 (57.4) | 15.9 (60.6) | 18.1 (64.6) | 20.5 (68.9) | 16.8 (62.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 15.4 (59.7) | 12.7 (54.9) | 10.3 (50.5) | 8.1 (46.6) | 7.5 (45.5) | 8.3 (46.9) | 10.0 (50.0) | 11.6 (52.9) | 13.4 (56.1) | 15.7 (60.3) | 12.3 (54.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 10.2 (50.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 6.1 (43.0) | 4.2 (39.6) | 3.6 (38.5) | 4.3 (39.7) | 5.8 (42.4) | 7.4 (45.3) | 8.7 (47.7) | 10.9 (51.6) | 7.8 (46.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.8 (33.4) | 1.1 (34.0) | −1.8 (28.8) | −2.7 (27.1) | −7.0 (19.4) | −5.7 (21.7) | −5.6 (21.9) | −5.8 (21.6) | −4.4 (24.1) | −4.4 (24.1) | −4.5 (23.9) | −1.0 (30.2) | −7.0 (19.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 80.8 (3.18) | 69.9 (2.75) | 73.0 (2.87) | 87.1 (3.43) | 77.6 (3.06) | 98.0 (3.86) | 99.9 (3.93) | 78.0 (3.07) | 90.7 (3.57) | 101 (4.0) | 91.3 (3.59) | 78.8 (3.10) | 1,026.1 (40.41) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 225.7 | 192.8 | 183.7 | 148.8 | 125.2 | 96.3 | 106.2 | 135.4 | 148.9 | 182.1 | 192.5 | 196.5 | 1,934.1 |
| Source: NIWA ||||||||||||||

## Schools

Dannevirke High School is the town's co-educational state secondary school, with a roll of 404 as of November 2024.
Dannevirke has three co-educational state primary schools: Dannevirke South School, with a roll of 268, Huia Range School, with a roll of 254, and Ruahine School, with a roll of .
St Joseph's School is a co-educational state Catholic primary school, with a roll of 148.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tamaki Nui A Rua is a co-educational Year 1–13 Māori language immersion school, with a roll of 90.
Totara College of Accelerated Learning is a co-educational state-integrated Year 1–13 school, with a roll of 63.

## Notable residents

* Lyndon Buckingham, 22nd General of the Salvation Army
* Sir William Ian Axford – Space Scientist
* Bob Bell – Farmer at Ākitio (Marainanga Station), Owner of the Ruahine Club, and Ruahine Lodge (Dannevike), and campaigner of the famous Condor Yachting campaigns of the 1970s and 1980s.
* Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen – Australian politician and Premier of Queensland
* Victor Bleasdale – Brigadier General, US Marine Corps, awarded Navy Cross twice for heroism in World War 1
* Rangi Chase – Rugby league player, capped for England
* Ewen Chatfield – Test cricketer
* Peter Connell – Irish cricketer
* Peter Cullinane – Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Palmerston North
* Lauris Edmond – poet
* Blair Furlong – international rugby player
* Bryan Gould – Rhodes Scholar, Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party, Dux of Dannevirke High School.
* Duncan Hales – international rugby player
* Aaron Hape – Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
* Weller Hauraki – Rugby league player
* Jack Kerr – Test cricketer
* Charlotte Kight – Of Ākitio b. Dannevirke, Silver Fern Netballer.
* Phil Lamason – World War II pilot
* Megan Larsen – organic skincare entrepreneur
* Colin Loader – international rugby player
* Sue McCauley – Playwright, author of 'Other Halves'
* Robin Maconie – composer, pianist, and writer
* Clint Newland – Rugby union player
* W. H. Oliver – historian and poet
* Lui Paewai – international rugby player, youngest All Black ever
* Murray Parker – test and one-day cricketer
* Bill Phillips – New Zealand and Australian economist, creator of the Phillips curve
* Sir Alfred Ransom (1868–1943), Mayor of Dannevirke (1910–1919) and Member of Parliament (1922–1943)
* Hans Madsen Ries (1860–1926), Mayor of Dannevirke (1903–1905, 1906–1910)
* Luke Ronchi – Dual international (Australia and New Zealand) T20, one-day and test cricketer
* Katrina Shanks – Politician, Member of Parliament
* John Timu – Dual rugby and rugby league international
* Joe Ward – Rugby union player
* Sonny Wool – Psychic sheep of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (b. Dannevirke)