KAWAKAWA is a small town in the Northland Region of northern New Zealand. It had a population of 1347 at the 2006 census, down from 1401 in 2001.

Kawakawa developed as a service town when coal was found in the area in 1861, but there is no longer coal mining here.
The economy is based around farming.

Originally known as " Irishtown" , Kawakawa is the only town in New Zealand to have a railway track running down the main street. Kawakawa's coalmining past is displayed at the Kawakawa museum in the historic World War One memorial Library building.

HISTORY of the BAY OF ISLANDS

KAWAKAWA as it was in 1900 ... the chief town in Bay of Islands County and the centre of an important coal-mining industry, as well as of a large kauri gum trade. It is fourteen miles from Russell, four miles by water and the remainder by rail from Opua, at which the inter-colonial steamers call for coal. Kawakawa has many stores and offices, hotels, churches, hall, and public school, besides post and telegraph office, court-house, and police station. It also supports a weekly newspaper named the ?Northern Luminary.? There is a bi-weekly mail service with Auckland ... the chief town in Bay of Islands County and the centre of an important coal-mining industry, as well as of a large kauri gum trade. It is fourteen miles from Russell, four miles by water and the remainder by rail from Opua, at which the inter-colonial steamers call for coal. Kawakawa has many stores and offices, hotels, churches, hall, and public school, besides post and telegraph office, court-house, and police station. It also supports a weekly newspaper named the ?Northern Luminary.? There is a bi-weekly mail service with Auckland ... and the population is nearly 2600 ... more at link

KAWAKAWA CEMETERY
the BLACK at Kawakawa Cemetery to August 2011

BLACK Annie Bullock (nee RUSSELL) 13/03/1944 aged 74
- married William Henry Black in 1884
- buried PLOT 37, BLOCK 8A

BLACK Doreen Cavell 24/03/1917 aged 3 months
- buried PLOT 18, BOCK 2A

BLACK Frederick Groves 25/04/1933 aged 36
- born 1896 to William Henry BLACK & Annie Bullock RUSSELL
- served in WWI as Rifleman 31109 with New Zealand Rifle Brigade 11th Reinforcements J Company. On enlistment he was a P.O. messenger
- he married Mary Watson Drummond in 1920
- buried PLOT 30, BLOCK 8A

BLACK Frederick Watson 11/05/1999 aged 77
- buried PLOT 63, BLOCK 9A, Returned Servicemans

BLACK Henry Cecil 04/07/1901 aged 1 day (TWIN with Ida below)
- born 1901 to William Henry BLACK & Annie Bullock RUSSELL
- PLOT unknown, Public Lawn

BLACK Ida Allison 18/07/1901 aged 2 weeks (TWIN with Henry above)
- born 3 July 1901 to William Henry BLACK & Annie Bullock RUSSELL
- PLOT unknown Public Lawn

BLACK Mary Watson (nee DRUMMOND) 30/06/1967 aged 68
- Mary married Frederick Groves Black in 1920
- buried PLOT 29, BLOCK 8A

BLACK Raymond Alfred 17/02/2009 aged 66
- Raymond was a Charter Boat Skipper
- buried PLOT 25, BLOCK Ext A

BLACK Raynor Joyce 23/10/2010 aged 58
- Raynor was a Shopkeeper
- buried PLOT 27, Ext A

BLACK Reina Kennedy 25/06/1921 aged 22
- born 1899 to William Henry BLACK & Annie Bullock RUSSELL
- buried PLOT 60, BLOCK 1A

BLACK William Henry 31/1/1932 aged 68
- William married Annie Bullock Russell in 1884
- buried PLOT 38, BLOCK 8A
NOTE
known children of William Henry BLACK & Annie Bullock RUSSELL were:
1885 - Elizabeth Black

1889 - Annie Black

1891 - 1949 John William Black

1893 - 1972 Ivy Isabella Black
- married James MILNE in 1920

1895 - 1966 Bethia Eunice Black
- married Claud Pelham SHERWIN in 1915

1899 -1921 Reina Kennedy Black

1901 - 1901 Ida Allison Black

1901 - 1901 Henry Cecil Black

1903 - Enid Norma Black