The Awatere River is a large river flowing through Marlborough, New Zealand. Flowing along the trace of the active Awatere Fault, it runs northeast through a straight valley to the west of the Inland Kaikoura mountains. This valley is parallel with that of the Waiau Toa / Clarence River, to the south. It flows for from its source in the mountainous interior to reach Cook Strait close to the town of Seddon. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "swift river" for Awatere. Demographics The Awatere River valley, which corresponds to the statistical area of Awatere, covers , and includes the settlements of Seddon and Ward. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Awatere had a population of 1,617 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (-0.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 9 people (0.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 594 households. There were 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, 4.6% Pacific peoples, 1.9% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). The proportion of people born overseas was 13.5%, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.6% had no religion, 37.7% were Christian, 0.2% were Muslim and 1.3% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (13.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 249 (19.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,700, compared with $31,800 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. Awatere River bridge 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 and 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