Ngapuke
Ngapuke | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 38°53′09″S 175°25′01″E / 38.885885°S 175.417032°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū-Whanganui |
| District | Ruapehu District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Taumarunui-Ōhura Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Ruapehu District Council |
| • Regional council | Horizons Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Ruapehu | Weston Kirton[1] |
| • Rangitīkei MP | Suze Redmayne[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 142.62 km2 (55.07 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 census)[5] | |
• Total | 168 |
| • Density | 1.18/km2 (3.05/sq mi) |
Ngapuke or Ngāpuke is a village and rural community in the Ruapehu district and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the south side of the valley of Pungapunga River, a tributary of the upper Whanganui River, east of Taumarunui and west of Tongariro and Kuratau on State Highway 41.[6]
In 1920, the settlement was a logging town for local forests. Since the 1950s it has been a farming community and outlying satellite town of Taumarunui.[6][7]
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the hills" for Ngāpuke.[8]
Marae
[edit]The Kauriki Marae and Te Ōhākī meeting house is a tribal meeting place for the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Hinemihi and Ngāti Turumakina.[9][10]
In October 2020, the Government committed $1,560,379 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 7 other nearby marae, creating 156 jobs.[11]
Maniaiti Marae is also located nearby.[10]
Demographics
[edit]Ngapuke locality covers 142.62 km2 (55.07 sq mi)[4] It is part of the larger Ngapuke statistical area.[12]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 159 | — |
| 2013 | 159 | +0.00% |
| 2018 | 165 | +0.74% |
| 2023 | 168 | +0.36% |
| Source: [5][13] | ||
Ngapuke locality had a population of 168 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (1.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people (5.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 84 males and 84 females in 63 dwellings.[14] The median age was 42.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 33 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 30 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 78 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.7% European (Pākehā), 35.7% Māori, 3.6% Pasifika, and 1.8% Asian. English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori by 5.4%, and other languages by 1.8%. No language could be spoken by 3.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 5.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 30.4% Christian, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.3%, and 5.4% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (6.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 84 (62.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (24.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (6.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 78 (57.8%) full-time and 18 (13.3%) part-time.[5]
Ngapuke statistical area
[edit]Ngapuke statistical area, which surrounds but does not include Taumarunui, covers 621.83 km2 (240.09 sq mi)[15] and had an estimated population of 1,400 as of June 2025,[16] with a population density of 2.3 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,356 | — |
| 2013 | 1,296 | −0.64% |
| 2018 | 1,263 | −0.51% |
| 2023 | 1,353 | +1.39% |
| Source: [17][18] | ||
Ngapuke had a population of 1,353 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 90 people (7.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 57 people (4.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 696 males, 654 females, and 3 people of other genders in 540 dwellings.[19] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 258 people (19.1%) aged under 15 years, 198 (14.6%) aged 15 to 29, 609 (45.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 288 (21.3%) aged 65 or older.[17]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.6% European (Pākehā); 43.5% Māori; 2.7% Pasifika; 3.1% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori by 8.2%, and other languages by 2.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 6.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[17]
Religious affiliations were 31.0% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 2.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.4%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.[17]
Of those at least 15 years old, 114 (10.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 633 (57.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 354 (32.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 78 people (7.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 555 (50.7%) full-time, 162 (14.8%) part-time, and 33 (3.0%) unemployed.[17]
Education
[edit]Te Kura o Ngapuke is a co-educational Māori language immersion state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[20] with a roll of 23 as of July 2025.[21]
The school was established in 1916 and celebrated its centenary in 2016 with an inter-generational game of Kī-o-rahi.[7]
In recent years, the school has transitioned from English language mainstream schooling, to a Kuri a Iwi schooling model, in which children are taught in te reo Māori and connected to their ancestor.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
- ^ "Rangitīkei - Official Result". electionresults. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ a b ."Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ 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. 7017571. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Ngapuke". natlib.govt.nz. National Library of New Zealand.
- ^ a b c Ferguson, Frances (26 October 2016). "Ngapuke School celebrates proud history". Stuff.
- ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ a b "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017571.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ 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. Ngapuke (222400). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Ngapuke (222400). 2018 Census place summary: Ngapuke
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.