// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Te Araroa a trail town? It's a path-etic place.
Te Araroa | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 | |
 Interactive map of Te Araroa | |
| Coordinates: 37°38′S 178°22′E / 37.633°S 178.367°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Gisborne District |
| Ward | Tairāwhiti General Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Gisborne District Council |
| • Mayor of Gisborne | Rehette Stoltz[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.69 km2 (0.65 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 150 |
| • Density | 89/km2 (230/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) | 4087 |
Te Araroa is a town in the Gisborne District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is 175 km north of Gisborne city, along State Highway 35 between Tokata and Awatere.[6] It is 100 metres from its local beach. Te Araroa is the birthplace of noted Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata. Māori in the area are mostly associated with the Ngāti Porou iwi.[7]
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "the long path" for Te Araroa.[8]
The township has a medical centre, general store, takeaways, fire station and police station. In 2006 the local pub, the Kawakawa Hotel was ravaged by a major fire. Recreational facilities include a children's playground, skate park and rugby domain.
Geography
[edit]
Te Araroa sits at the base of Whetumatarau at the south-eastern end of Kawakawa Bay. In the grounds of the local school stands Te Waha o Rerekohu, claimed to be one of the largest pōhutukawa trees (Metrosideros excelsa) in New Zealand.[7] Te Araroa Domain is the settlement's sports ground and local park.[9] There is a motor camp at Punaruku, five minutes drive from the town, at the north-western end of the bay.[10]
Demographics
[edit]Stats NZ describes Te Araroa as a rural settlement, which covers 1.69 km2 (0.65 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 150 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 89 people per km2. It is part of the larger East Cape statistical area.[11]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 168 | — |
| 2013 | 162 | −0.52% |
| 2018 | 153 | −1.14% |
| 2023 | 144 | −1.21% |
| Source: [12][13] | ||
Te Araroa had a population of 144 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−5.9%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 18 people (−11.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 75 males and 69 females in 57 dwellings.[14] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 36 people (25.0%) aged under 15 years, 15 (10.4%) aged 15 to 29, 60 (41.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (22.9%) aged 65 or older.[12]
People could identify with more than one ethnicity. The results were 18.8% European (Pākehā), 91.7% Māori, and 4.2% Pasifika. English was spoken by 97.9%, and Māori by 37.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 2.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 2.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]
Religious affiliations were 39.6% Christian, and 4.2% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 45.8%, and 8.3% of people did not answer the census question.[12]
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (16.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 51 (47.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 36 (33.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $27,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 36 (33.3%) full-time, 15 (13.9%) part-time, and 6 (5.6%) unemployed.[12]
Marae
[edit]Hinerupe Marae
[edit]The local Hinerupe Marae and meeting house, located in the township, is a tribal meeting place of the Ngāti Porou hapū of Ngāti Tuere, Te Whānau a Hinerupe, Te Whānau a Karuai and Te Whānau a Tuwhakairiora.[15][16]
In 1996 an electrical fire destroyed part of Hinerupe Marae.[17] The community rallied to raise funds to build a new marae on the same site as the former 130-year-old building. One major fundraising event The Out of the Ashes Festival saw New Zealand performers Sir Howard Morrison, Dave Dobbyn, Neil Finn and Annie Crummer perform at the Te Araroa Domain. The new marae complex opened on 30 March 2002.[16]
In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 28 others in the Gisborne District. The funding was expected to create 205 jobs.[18]
Other marae
[edit]Four other Ngāti Porou marae are also located in the valley.
Punaruku Marae and Te Pikitanga meeting house, located north of the township, is a meeting place of Ngāti Kahu.[15][16]
The Tutua or Paerauta Marae and Te Poho o Tamakoro meeting house, located west of the township, is a meeting place of Ngāi Tamakoro and Ngāti Tuere.[15][16] It also received Government funding for an upgrade in October 2020.[18]
Hurae or Te Kahika Marae and meeting house, also located south of the township, is also a meeting place of Te Whānau a Hinerupe.[15][16] It also received Government funding for an upgrade in October 2020.[18]
Awatere Marae and Te Aotaihi meeting house, located south of the township, is a meeting place of Te Whānau a Hinerupe.[15][16] It received $101,200 from the Provincial Growth Fund in 2020 for upgrade work.[18]
Education
[edit]Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School is a Year 1–13 co-educational state area school with a roll of 61 students as of March 2026.[19][20][21] It opened in 1874 as Kawakawa Native School, and at various times was called Te Araroa Native School, Te Araroa Native District High School, Te Araroa High School and Rerekohu District High School.[22]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Election results". Gisborne District Council. 17 October 2025.
- ↑ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ↑ Hariss, Gavin. "Te Araroa, Gisborne". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
- 1 2 "Te Araroa". gisbornenz.com. Gisborne NZ Tourism. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
- ↑ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
- ↑ "Gisborne Parks and Reserves". gdc.govt.nz. Gisborne District Council.
- ↑ "Te Araroa Holiday Park". Tairawhiti Gisborne. Trust Tairāwhiti. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Te Araroa (1270). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015467.
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ↑ Yandall, Paul. "Te Araroa toils to restore pride". The New Zealand Herald. APN. Retrieved 29 December 2001.
- 1 2 3 4 "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ "Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
- ↑ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
- ↑ "Te Araroa Native School - Rerekohu District High School centennial, 1874-1974". Te Waha o Rerekohu District High School Centennial Magazine Committee. 1874.