Auroa

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Auroa
Map
Coordinates: 39°29′1″S 174°2′38″E / 39.48361°S 174.04389°E / -39.48361; 174.04389
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
Territorial authoritySouth Taranaki District
Ward
  • Taranaki Coastal General Ward
  • Eltham-Kaponga General Ward
  • Te Kūrae Māori Ward
Community
  • Taranaki Coastal Community
  • Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Taranaki District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of South TaranakiPhil Nixon[1]
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
47.13 km2 (18.20 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[5]
 • Total
264
 • Density5.60/km2 (14.5/sq mi)

Auroa is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand. Ōpunake is to the west, Kaponga to the northeast, and Manaia to the southeast. Mount Taranaki is directly north of Auroa.[6][7]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "long cloud" for Auroa.[8]

Demographics

[edit]

Auroa locality covers 41.13 km2 (15.88 sq mi).[4] It is part of the larger Taungatara statistical area.[9]

Historical population for Auroa locality
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006297—    
2013291−0.29%
2018270−1.49%
2023264−0.45%
Source: [5][10]

Auroa had a population of 264 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−2.2%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−9.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 132 males and 132 females in 99 dwellings.[11] 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 63 people (23.9%) aged under 15 years, 51 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 123 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (10.2%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.2% European (Pākehā), 15.9% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 2.3%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.6%, and 8.0% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (6.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 129 (64.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 54 (26.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 15 people (7.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 126 (62.7%) full-time, 21 (10.4%) part-time, and 6 (3.0%) unemployed.[5]

Taungatara statistical area

[edit]

Taungatara statistical area, which also includes Otakeho, Te Kiri and Pihama, covers 313.03 km2 (120.86 sq mi)[12] and had an estimated population of 1,490 as of June 2024,[13] with a population density of 4.8 people per km2.

Historical population for Taungatara
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,431—    
20131,380−0.52%
20181,326−0.80%
20231,311−0.23%
Source: [14][15]

Taungatara had a population of 1,311 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−1.1%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 69 people (−5.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 672 males, 633 females, and 6 people of other genders in 468 dwellings.[16] 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 336 people (25.6%) aged under 15 years, 249 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 594 (45.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 129 (9.8%) aged 65 or older.[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.2% European (Pākehā); 19.5% Māori; 1.6% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori by 2.5%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 4.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[14]

Religious affiliations were 31.6% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.3%, and 9.2% of people did not answer the census question.[14]

Of those at least 15 years old, 123 (12.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 606 (62.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 243 (24.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 90 people (9.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 573 (58.8%) full-time, 156 (16.0%) part-time, and 21 (2.2%) unemployed.[14]

Otakeho

[edit]

Otakeho is a part of the Taungatara statistical area, to the south of Auroa and west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho),[17] on SH45.[18] It has a hall (built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee),[19] a boarded up store[20] (probably built about 1920)[21] and a few houses. To the west of Otakeho is Ngāruahine's Tawhitinui Marae.[22]

Otakeho has a small sandy beach, beyond Dingle Road,[23] at the foot of 40 m (130 ft) high cliffs.[24] It is used for fishing[23] and has a poorly protected,[25] nationally threatened, variety of Craspedia, Craspedia Otakeho.[26]

It once also had a school (1884[27]-2003[28] - the buildings remain),[29] a Category 2 listed church (sold in 2018[30] and moved to Pihama in 2021),[31] an hotel[32] (rebuilt[33] after a 1907 fire[34] and since burnt down again),[35] a post office, a smithy and a dairy factory,[36] which occupied several buildings.[37]

The Ōpunake to New Plymouth bus runs through Otakeho daily in each direction, except at weekends.[38]

Education

[edit]

Auroa School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 172 students as of July 2025.[39][40] It opened in 1891 as Ratana School, and was renamed Auroa School in 1898.[41] Schools at Pihama, Riverlea and Te Kiri were closed and merged into Auroa School in 2004.[42]

Association Football

[edit]

The Auroa Association Football club was formed in May 1907.[43] After the First World War the club re-emerged with two sides. A story of an Auroa player who covered nearly 20 miles on a ladies bicycle in just over an hour to deliver a misplaced bag to the Hawera train station appeared in the local newspaper in 1923.[44] In 1924 Mr. W. Brown from Auroa captained Taranaki against Chinese Universities at Hawera's Showgrounds. In 1926 Auroa won the Taranaki Championship and Julian Cup.[45] In 1927 Mr. Freakley from Auroa captained Taranaki against Canada at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.[46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mayor of South Taranaki". South Taranaki District Council. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017385 and 7017387. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, pp. map 34, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8
  7. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, pp. map 96, ISBN 1-877333-20-4
  8. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  10. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017385 and 7017387.
  11. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Taungatara (220600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Taungatara (220600). 2018 Census place summary: Taungatara
  16. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Otakeho Water Quantity Data". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. ^ Ron. "Otakeho Hall - 1897". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. ^ "2071 South Rd Otakeho, Taranaki". Google Maps. June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  21. ^ "BUSINESS NOTICES. HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 March 1921. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Tawhitinui Marae". Archived from the original on 22 April 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the Taranaki Region" (PDF). January 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2017.
  24. ^ "Otakeho Stream, Taranaki". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  25. ^ "The Taranaki Inc Biodiversity Strategy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2017.
  26. ^ "New Zealand Flora". nzflora.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  27. ^ "EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE. HAWERA STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 May 1934. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Otakeho war memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  29. ^ "2121 South Rd Otakeho, Taranaki". Google Maps. February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Otakeho church tender offers closed, attracts a flurry of interest". Stuff. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  31. ^ "Search the List | St John the Divine Church (Former) [Relocated] | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  32. ^ "photograph of Otakeho Hotel with a group of people outside". Nelson Provincial Museum. 1890. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  33. ^ "HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 January 1908. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  34. ^ "FIRE AT OTAKEHO. HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 August 1907. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  35. ^ "Nicholls Story Farming Agricultural Vetenarian Scholarships BA Taranaki". Bashford-Nicholls Trust. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  36. ^ "Otakeho". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. 1908. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  37. ^ Ron. "T.L. Joll Co-op - Otakeho Factory". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  38. ^ "Hāwera-New Plymouth (extending from Ōpunake first service)". July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022.
  39. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  40. ^ Education Counts: Auroa School
  41. ^ "Auroa School & Districts Centennial" (PDF). 1991.
  42. ^ "Education Review Report: Auroa School". Education Review Office. April 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2008.[dead link]
  43. ^ "Auroa". Opunaki Times. 21 May 1907. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  44. ^ "Association Football". Papers Past. 23 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021.
  45. ^ "New Zealand - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  46. ^ "Association Football". Stratford Evening Post. 23 May 1927. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

Further reading

[edit]

General historical works

[edit]
  • Brown, Beryl, ed. (1991), Auroa: school & districts centennial, 1891-1991, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press & Printing, ISBN 0-908904-09-6

Clubs and organisations

[edit]
  • Auroa Highland Pipe Band Inc.: 1928-1978: Golden Jubilee souvenir booklet: 3rd & 4th June,1978., Auroa, [N.Z.]: Auroa Highland Pipe Band Inc., 1978

Schools

[edit]
  • School register index: Oeo 1910 - 1984 : Otakeho to 1984 : Te Roti to 1984 : Tokaora to 1984 : Matapu to 1984 : Auroa : Okaiawa to 1984 : Kapuni, n.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Brown, Beryl, ed. (1991), Auroa: school & districts centennial, 1891-1991, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press & Printing, ISBN 0-908904-09-6
  • Robins, Patricia, ed. (1966), Auroa (Ratanui) School 75th jubilee, 1891-1966, Auroa, [N.Z.]: 75th Jubilee Executive Committee