Taharoa

It was at times the temporary home of the great Te Rauparaha used mainly as a battle ground on the vast expanses of sand dunes evident by the number of finds over the years, by 1822 they were being forced out of their land by stronger northern tribes. Te Rauparaha then began a fighting retreat or migration southwards, one which ended with them controlling a small part of the North Island and particularly Kapiti Island, which became the tribal stronghold.[5]

The main industrial activity is iron sand mining, run by New Zealand Steel, which began in 1972 was exporting about 1.4 Mt (1,500,000 short tons) a year, mainly to Japan, with small quantities to South Korea and China.[7] A 1993 study put reserves at 205 Mt of high concentrate and 360 Mt of lower grade sand.[8] An $80m investment in 2014 boosted potential exports to 4 Mt a year.[9]

In 2000 mining moved 2 km (1.2 mi) north, after the southern area was worked out. The roadway used for the move is now an airstrip.[10] Sand from the lake is dug by a 250 tonne cutter suction dredge, a 450 tonne floating Trommel screen removes particles larger than 2.5 mm (0.098 in), a 1,000 tonne floating concentrator removes lighter material and the denser sand is magnetically separated.[10]

1,375 tonnes an hour of sand[10] was piped 2.5 km (1.6 mi)[7] to an offshore mono-buoy,[11] which was extended a further 500m in 2012,[9] replaced in 2017[12] and is 17 m (56 ft) wide and weighs 250 tons.[13] The previous buoy was 11 m (36 ft) wide and weighed 185 tons.[10] The three bulk carriers used to transport the sand, Taharoa Destiny, Taharoa Providence and Taharoa Eos,[14][15] require a pilot to berth at the buoy[16] and also a support boat to move ropes and pipes.[17]

The mine employs about 150 workers,[18] though only 108 were recorded as working in the whole Taharoa area in the 2013 census.[19] To house its workers, NZ Steel built 65 houses, a hall, Kōhanga Reo, school, shop, and fire and ambulance facilities in the village.[10]

Statistics New Zealand describes Taharoa as a rural settlement, which covers 2.56 km² (0.99 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 190 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 74 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Herangi statistical area.

Taharoa had a population of 171 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−5.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (3.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 51 households, comprising 87 males and 84 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 31.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 45 people (26.3%) aged under 15 years, 36 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 6 (3.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 15.8% European/Pākehā, 94.7% Māori, and 3.5% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.1% had no religion, 29.8% were Christian, and 7.0% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (4.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 30 (23.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 45 people (35.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 60 (47.6%) people were employed full-time, 24 (19.0%) were part-time, and 3 (2.4%) were unemployed.[20]

Kinohaku School is a co-educational state primary school,[23] with a roll of 12 as of April 2023.[24][25]

Te Kura o Tahaaroa is a co-educational state Māori immersion school,[26] with a roll of 38.[27]

• 1:50,000 map
• 1953 one inch map
• 1934 map
• Google Street View of Taharoa village