Ruatoria

Statistics New Zealand describes Ruatoria as a rural settlement, which covers 13.19 km² (5.09 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 860 as of June 2023,[3] with a population density of 65 people per km². It is part of the larger Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area.

Ruatoria had a population of 759 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (5.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 36 people (5.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 225 households, comprising 396 males and 363 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female, with 243 people (32.0%) aged under 15 years, 165 (21.7%) aged 15 to 29, 282 (37.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (8.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 20.6% European/Pākehā, 95.3% Māori, 3.6% Pacific peoples, 2.4% Asian, and 0.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 38.7% had no religion, 36.8% were Christian, 5.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 135 (26.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 27 people (5.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 168 (32.6%) people were employed full-time, 90 (17.4%) were part-time, and 42 (8.1%) were unemployed.[10]

As the crow flies, Ruatoria is approximately 90 km (56 mi) north-northeast of Gisborne, and 30 km (19 mi) southwest of the East Cape Lighthouse.[13] By road it is 128 km (80 mi) from Gisborne, 3 km (1.9 mi) off State Highway 35.[4] It is at the bottom of the Waiapu Valley on the banks of the Waiapu River just downstream of where the river is formed by the joining of the Mata and Tapuaeroa Rivers.[4]

The principal industries in the district are related to agriculture and forestry. Attempts to sink oil wells in the area in the 1920s proved unprofitable.

The original shop, bunk house and cook house in the township of Tuparoa were destroyed by fire on two occasions between 1907 and 1913. Commerce was moved inland 5 miles to the area known as The Crossroads, northeast of the present town sitting on the area of the first river plain where it drops to the present river plain where the roads went north–south and to the east. (There was a race course on land alongside the Waiapu River below The Crossroads but that was abandoned by the end of the second world war). The Crossroads too was destroyed by fire during the first world war and in 1920 the first general store and accommodation was erected by William Hayes Owen Johnston (1890-1960) on what is now Tuparoa Road. (The shop has been dismantled after his death in 1960) He is buried with his third wife in the cemetery at Mahora on the Tuparoa road just before the junction with the side road to Reparoa. (His first and second wives were of the Gerrard family of Tuparoa and are buried in the cemetery at the top of the hill on the northern side of the creek which separated the old Tuparoa settlement).

From about 1925 onwards, Ruatoria began to replace Tuparoa as the main urban centre of the East Coast district of New Zealand. The transition to Ruatoria from Tuparoa was brought about by the increased reliability of State Highway 35, which at that time ran via the main street of Ruatoria. Tuparoa was disadvantaged by unreliable road access and a lack of all weather harbour.

The Rotokautuku Bridge, connecting Ruatoria to the northern side of Waiapu River, was built in 1964.[16] This 1964 bridge replaced the old bridge which had been built in the 1930s. The old piles were used for the new bridge, although they had to be lowered by a metre to accommodate the new bridge.

In the 1980s, Ruatoria was briefly notorious for an outbreak of arson attacks in the town, during a period of severe economic downturn.[17][18]

The Ngāti Porou proverb of identity relates to the area — Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Ngāti Porou te iwi (Hikurangi is the mountain, Waiapu is the river, Ngāti Porou is the tribe).[6][19] Ruatoria is within the iwi's rohe, and Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou has offices located in the town.[19][20]

The Waiapu River is of immense cultural, spiritual, economic, and traditional value to local Māori.[6][19][21] According to traditional beliefs, a number of taniwha dwell in and protect the river, in turn protecting the valley and its hapū.[21] Taniwha believed to be in Waiapu River include Kotuwainuku, Kotuwairangi, Ohinewaiapu, and Ngungurutehorowhatu.[21][22]

According to an affidavit of Hapukuniha Te Huakore Karaka, two taniwha were placed in strategic locations in the river to protect the hapū from invading tribes — one near Paoaruku (a locality at 37°49′38″S 178°20′21″E[23]), and one at the Wairoa River (a small creek at 37°50′13″S 178°24′00″E[24]). Karaka said that a bridge was built from Tikitiki to Waiomatatini, to the protest of local Māori who were concerned that it would disturb the taniwha. The night before the bridge was completed, a storm came washing the bridge away — the weather till then had been calm. From then, one person would drown in the river nearly every year. If it did not happen one year, two would drown the next. A local tohunga, George Gage (Hori Te Kou-o-rehua Keeti) was approached to help the situation, and after that there were no similar drownings.[22]

Ngata Memorial College is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school[28] with a roll of 102 students as of April 2023.[29][30] The college opened in 1959.[31]

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu O Ngati Porou is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school[32] with a roll of 111 students as of April 2023.[29][33]

The area was home to politician Sir Āpirana Ngata, and Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu — the second of three Māori to receive a Victoria Cross.[4][34]

• Waiapu Valley
• Waiapu River
• Gisborne Region

• Photos of Ruatoria on Panoramio