Pukawa

Pukawa
Rural locality
Waikato Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	0.78 km2 (0.30 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	50
• Density	64/km2 (170/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3381

Pukawa or Pukawa Bay (

Marae

It is home of the

Pōtatau Te Wherowhero was formally selected as king by a conference of chiefs of the Māori tribes held at Pukawa in April 1857 and was crowned during elaborate ceremonies held at his marae in Ngāruawāhia in April 1858.^[7]

In 1906 Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Tongariro Timber Company struck an agreement for the construction of a 40-mile railway line from Kakahi (on the main trunk line) to Pukawa. This line was never completed.^[8]

Statistics New Zealand describes Pukawa as a rural settlement, which includes Oreti and covers 0.78 km² (0.30 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 50 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 64 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupo Bays statistical area.

Historical population for the settlement

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	210	—
2013	171	−2.89%
2018	213	+4.49%
Source: [9]

Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 6.09 km² (2.35 sq mi) and included Ōmori.

. There were 99 households, comprising 108 males and 108 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 61.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (11.3%) aged under 15 years, 21 (9.9%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (38.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 87 (40.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 81.7% European/Pākehā, 31.0% Māori, 1.4% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.3% had no religion, 42.3% were Christian, and 1.4% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (22.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 30 (15.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 30 people (15.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 66 (34.9%) people were employed full-time, 24 (12.7%) were part-time, and 6 (3.2%) were unemployed.^[9]

The statistical area of Lake Taupo Bays covers 1,154.30 km² (445.68 sq mi)^[1] square kilometres to the south and west of Lake Taupo. It surrounds but does not include Tūrangi. It had an estimated population of 1,780 as of June 2024,^[10] with a population density of 1.5 people per km².

Historical population for Lake Taupo Bays

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,620	—
2013	1,578	−0.37%
2018	1,566	−0.15%
Source: [11]

Lake Taupo Bays had a population of 1,566 at the

. There were 645 households, comprising 810 males and 756 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 52.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 267 people (17.0%) aged under 15 years, 174 (11.1%) aged 15 to 29, 687 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 438 (28.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.2% European/Pākehā, 41.0% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 2.3% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.3% had no religion, 36.4% were Christian, 7.7% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 219 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (18.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 174 people (13.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 552 (42.5%) people were employed full-time, 189 (14.5%) were part-time, and 48 (3.7%) were unemployed.^[11]

• Bessie Te Wenerau Grace, teacher, first Māori woman university graduate