Uruti
Uruti is a locality in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3, north-east of Mimi and south-west of Ahititi. The Uruti Stream meets the Mimi River at this point. The river flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.[1][2]
Uruti | |
|---|---|
 The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township | |
| Coordinates: 38°56′40″S 174°31′42″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki Region |
| Territorial authority | New Plymouth District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Clifton Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | New Plymouth District Council |
| • Regional council | Taranaki Regional Council |
A district nurse was appointed to serve the backblocks of the Uruti Valley in 1909. This was the first district nursing service in New Zealand.[3][4]
The Uruti tunnel links the Uruti Valley with the main highway. It was completed in 1923 and is the longest and most unstable tunnel in Taranaki.[5]
The 1984 film Vigil was filmed at Uruti.[6] Much of the 2003 film The Last Samurai was filmed in the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki/Egmont standing in for Mount Fuji.[7]
Demographics
Mount Messenger statistical area, which includes the localities of Mimi, Uruti, Ahititi and Tongapōrutu, covers 934.30 km2 (360.74 sq mi)[8] and had an estimated population of 930 as of June 2022,[9] with a population density of 1.0 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 756 | — |
| 2013 | 822 | +1.20% |
| 2018 | 864 | +1.00% |
| Source: [10] | ||
Mount Messenger had a population of 864 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (5.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 108 people (14.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 309 households, comprising 441 males and 423 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 216 people (25.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 420 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.2% European/Pākehā, 22.6% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 9.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.9% had no religion, 32.3% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (51.4%) people were employed full-time, 117 (18.1%) were part-time, and 21 (3.2%) were unemployed.[10]
Education
Uruti School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 9 students as of April 2023.[11][12] The school celebrated its centennial in 1998.[13]
Notes
- Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 35. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
- Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 74. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
- Maclean, Hester (1932). "XVI. Back-Block District Nursing". Nursing in New Zealand: History and Reminiscences. pp. 86–87.
- "MACLEAN, Hester, R.R.C.". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
- Bartle, Rhonda (17 February 2005). "Road Tunnels of Taranaki". Puke Ariki. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
- "Vigil film set". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
- "The Last Samurai New Zealand Film Location". Tourism New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Mount Messenger (219200). 2018 Census place summary: Mount Messenger
- "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- Education Counts: Uruti School
- "Jubilees & reunions: Uruti School". Education Gazette New Zealand. 75 (17). 30 September 1996.
Further reading
General historical works
- Brooks, Glenwyss (comp.) (1995). How green was our valley: collected memories of Uruti. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Aries Print. ISBN 0-473-02685-6.
Business
- 1904-1954, golden jubilee / with the compliments of the Uruti Valley Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Avery Print. 1954.
Schools
- Uruti School 60th jubilee: in conjunction with Messenger, Musker’s, Pehu: 16th-18th May 1958. Uruti, [N.Z.] ; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee, 1958 ; Taranaki Daily News Co. Ltd. 1958.
- Wilson, Christine; Brooks, Glenwyss (comps.). Uruti School, 1898-1998: in celebration of 100 years. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Uruti School Centennial Committee. ISBN 0473059207.