Poukawa

Poukawa
Settlement
Map
Coordinates: 39°45′32″S 176°43′23″E / 39.759°S 176.723°E / -39.759; 176.723
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay Region
Territorial authorityHastings District
Ward
  • Kahurānaki General Ward
  • Takitimu Māori Ward
CommunityHastings District Rural Community
SubdivisionPoukawa Subdivision
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHastings District Council
 • Regional councilHawke's Bay Regional Council
 • Mayor of HastingsSandra Hazlehurst[1]
 • Tukituki MPCatherine Wedd[2]
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel[3]
Area
 • Total
169.27 km2 (65.36 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[5]
 • Total
897
 • Density5.3/km2 (14/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
4178

Poukawa is a rural community in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island.

It is located south of Hastings, off State Highway 2.

Demographics

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Poukawa community covers 169.27 km2 (65.36 sq mi).[4] It is part of the larger Poukawa statistical area.[6]

Historical population for Poukawa community
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006717—    
2013690−0.55%
2018765+2.09%
2023897+3.23%
Source: [5][7]

The community had a population of 897 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 132 people (17.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 207 people (30.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 453 males, 441 females, and 3 people of other genders in 294 dwellings.[8] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 180 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 150 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 423 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (15.7%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.0% European (Pākehā); 23.1% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori by 4.7%, Samoan by 1.0%, and other languages by 7.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 37.1% Christian, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 5.0% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 201 (28.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 399 (55.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 126 (17.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 123 people (17.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 393 (54.8%) full-time, 129 (18.0%) part-time, and 18 (2.5%) unemployed.[5]

Poukawa statistical area

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Poukawa statistical area covers 339.92 km2 (131.24 sq mi)[9] and had an estimated population of 1,490 as of June 2024,[10] with a population density of 4.4 people per km2.

Historical population for Poukawa statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,293—    
20131,272−0.23%
20181,365+1.42%
20231,569+2.82%
Source: [11][12]

The statistical area had a population of 1,569 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 204 people (14.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 297 people (23.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 804 males, 759 females, and 6 people of other genders in 540 dwellings.[13] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 282 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 261 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 762 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 264 (16.8%) aged 65 or older.[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.4% European (Pākehā); 25.0% Māori; 2.9% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 5.9%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]

Religious affiliations were 35.9% Christian, 0.2% Islam, 3.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 4.6% of people did not answer the census question.[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 339 (26.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 690 (53.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 255 (19.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 183 people (14.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 738 (57.3%) full-time, 201 (15.6%) part-time, and 30 (2.3%) unemployed.[11]

Marae

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The community has two Ngāti Kahungunu marae.

Te Whatuiāpiti Marae and meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāti Whatuiāpiti.[14][15] In October 2020, the Government committed $887,291 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 4 others, creating 12 jobs.[16]

Kahurānaki Marae and Kahurānaki meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāi Te Rangikoianake and Ngāti Whatuiāpiti.[14][15] In October 2020, the Government committed $6,020,910 to upgrade Kahurānaki and 17 other marae, creating 39 jobs.[16]

Education

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Poukawa School is a co-educational state primary school,[17] with a roll of 101 as of July 2025.[18][19] The school was established in 1921.[20]

Railway station

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Poukawa had a flag station, opened on 16 February 1876, as part of the Paki Paki to Te Aute section of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line. By 1891 there were 3 trains a day in each direction,[21] serving a shelter shed, platform, cart approach, loading bank and a short siding.[22] In 1912 an automatic tablet exchanger was added.[22] In 1929 a passing loop was added, which was moved north east, near to Te Mahanga Road, in 1958. In the 1931 earthquake the line near Te Mahanga Road was displaced by about 5 ft (1.5 m).[23] In 1967 Te Mahunga Road crossing gained flashing lights and bells, which were added the next year to Station Road crossing as well.[22] The station lost its passenger service on 3 August 1959 and closed on 1 August 1971.[24]

Te Hauke platform

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After an 1884 petition for a platform at Te Hauke, 2 mi 27 ch (3.8 km) south of Poukawa, described as a Native Settlement, a short platform was provided in 1886 and a shelter shed in 1906. Te Hauke closed to all traffic on 21 Nov 1958.[22]

  Former adjoining stations  
Te Aute
Line open, station closed
6.19 km (3.85 mi)
  Palmerston North–Gisborne Line   Pakipaki
Line open, station closed
10.04 km (6.24 mi)[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Mayor & Councillors". Hastings District Council. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Tukituki - Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 28 August 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. 7016116, 7016117, 7016118, 7016122 and 7016126. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  7. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7016116, 7016117, 7016118, 7016122 and 7016126.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  11. ^ 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. Poukawa (208700). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Poukawa (208700). 2018 Census place summary: Poukawa
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ a b "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  15. ^ a b "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  16. ^ a b "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Poukawa School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  18. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  19. ^ "Poukawa School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  20. ^ "Our School". Poukawa School. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  21. ^ "WAIPAWA MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 3 March 1891. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  22. ^ a b c d "Station Archive". NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  23. ^ "EFFECTS OF THE 'QUAKE. WAIPAWA MAIL". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 March 1931. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  24. ^ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  25. ^ Yonge, John Roger (1993). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas. Quail Map Company. ISBN 9780900609923.
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