Pongaroa

Pongaroa is a town in the Tararua District, in the southeast of the North Island of New Zealand, 110 kilometres southwest of Hastings and 200 kilometres northeast of Wellington. The nearest town is Pahiatua, 50 kilometres to the west. Popular Ākitio Beach is 30 kilometres to the east. The township straddles Route 52, a road between Masterton and Waipukurau.

Pongaroa
Pongaroa Main Street (route 52), looking north
Pongaroa Main Street (route 52), looking north
Coordinates: 40.543°S 176.191°E / -40.543; 176.191
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityTararua District
Ward
  • North Tararua General Ward
  • Tamaki nui-a Rua Maori Ward
CommunityDannevirke Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityTararua District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Tararua MayorTracey Collis
 • Wairarapa MPMike Butterick
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel
Area
[1]
 • Total1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total80
 • Density73/km2 (190/sq mi)
Postcode
4991

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "tall tree fern" for Pongaroa.[3]

Pongaroa village has a population of about 100, with the surrounding farms bringing the total population to about 300. The area is serviced by Pongaroa School, Pongaroa General Store, Pongaroa Hotel, and Pongaroa Farm Centre. Pongaroa is also the location of the New Zealand Centre for Equine Psychology and Behaviour[4] and Wildside Farm environmental education retreat.[5]

Local volunteers have been responsible for the public toilets, the establishment of a freedom campsite, and improvements to the village centre.[6]

Historically, Pongaroa belonged in the northern Wairarapa area. At one time during the early settlement years in the latter half of the 19th century, the township was much larger: people expected that the Masterton-Napier Railway would run through Pongaroa. However, eventually the Wairarapa Line cut through Pahiatua (1897) and thus that township grew, whilst Pongaroa remained a farming community. Pongaroa became an administrative centre of Akitio County, which functioned between 1899 and 1976.[7]

Pāpāuma marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of the Rangitāne tribes and its Ngāti Mutuahi, Ngāti Pakapaka and Te Hika a Pāpāuma hapū (sub-tribes), is located in the Pangaoroa area.[8] It includes Te Aroha o Aohanga wharenui (meeting house), also known as Pāpāuma.[9]

Demographics

Pongaroa is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, which covers 1.09 km2 (0.42 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 80 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 73 people per km2. It is part of the larger Owhanga statistical area.

Historical population for Pongaroa
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006117—    
201387−4.14%
201881−1.42%
Source: [10]
Former Pongaroa Post Office in 2022

Pongaroa had a population of 81 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−6.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 36 people (−30.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 36 households, comprising 45 males and 39 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.15 males per female. The median age was 52.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 9 people (11.1%) aged under 15 years, 9 (11.1%) aged 15 to 29, 39 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (29.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.9% European/Pākehā, and 37.0% Māori. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.1% had no religion, 40.7% were Christian, and 3.7% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3 (4.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (33.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $23,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 30 (41.7%) people were employed full-time, 18 (25.0%) were part-time, and 3 (4.2%) were unemployed.[10]

Owhanga

Owhanga statistical area covers 1,142.49 km2 (441.12 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of as of June 2023,[11] with a population density of Formatting error: invalid input when rounding people per km2.

Historical population for Owhanga statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006825—    
2013717−1.98%
2018750+0.90%
Source: [12]

Owhanga had a population of 750 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (4.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 75 people (−9.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 285 households, comprising 405 males and 345 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 42.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 180 people (24.0%) aged under 15 years, 93 (12.4%) aged 15 to 29, 357 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 117 (15.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.8% European/Pākehā, 21.2% Māori, 0.8% Pasifika, 0.8% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 6.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.4% had no religion, 35.2% were Christian, 2.0% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 144 (25.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 60 people (10.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 300 (52.6%) people were employed full-time, 117 (20.5%) were part-time, and 12 (2.1%) were unemployed.[12]

Education

Pongaroa School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[13][14] with a roll of 58 as of April 2023.[15]

Notable people

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. "Horse psychology and behavior: equine educational courses by Herdword, credits in equine studies".
  5. "Wild Side Farm".
  6. "Pongaroa".
  7. "Akitio County Council | Archives Central".
  8. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  9. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  10. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7018879.
  11. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Owhanga (233800). 2018 Census place summary: Owhanga
  13. "Official School Website". pongaroa.school.nz.
  14. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  15. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.