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Kakatahi

Kakatahi
Map
Interactive map of Kakatahi
Coordinates: 39°39′14″S 175°19′43″E / 39.653823°S 175.328622°E / -39.653823; 175.328622
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictWhanganui District
CommunityWhanganui Rural Community
Electorates
Government
  Territorial AuthorityWhanganui District Council
  Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
  Mayor of WhanganuiAndrew Tripe[1]
  Whanganui MPCarl Bates[2]
  Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
  Total
541.09 km2 (208.92 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[5]
  Total
228
  Density0.421/km2 (1.09/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
  Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Area code06

Kākātahi is a New Zealand town located 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Whanganui, on State Highway 4 to Raetihi.[6] The once bustling roadworkers' camp is now closed and the introduction of private contractors has seen the community dwindle, with local families contributing to a school roll of only about a dozen in 2007.

The local Ōtoko Pā is a meeting place for korowai o Te Awaiti.[7] who is a group of hāpu known as: Ngāti Hine-o-te-rā, Ngāti Rūwai, and Ngāti Waikārapu[7] Sometimes just known as Te Awaiti or Te Awa Iti.

On the pā, there is a Wharenui called Tauakirā[8] and Kākātahi School

Demographics

[edit]

Kakatahi locality covers 541.09 km2 (208.92 sq mi).[4] It is part of the larger Upper Whanganui statistical area.[9]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2013246    
2018213−2.84%
2023228+1.37%
Source: [5]

Kakatahi had a population of 228 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (7.0%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 18 people (−7.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 129 males and 99 females in 102 dwellings.[10] There were 45 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 48 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 105 (46.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 82.9% European (Pākehā); 28.9% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 10.5%, Samoan by 1.3%, and other languages by 2.6%. No language could be spoken by 3.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 25.0% Christian, 5.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.5%, and 2.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 108 (59.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (24.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 12 people (6.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 111 (60.7%) full-time, 27 (14.8%) part-time, and 6 (3.3%) unemployed.[5]

Education

[edit]

Kākātahi School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[11] with a roll of 15 as of March 2026.[12] It opened in 1934 but with predecessors from 1913. A new school was built in 1963.[13]

Ngamatea School was a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students southeast of Kakatahi. It opened in 1915 as Te Pou School,[14] and closed in 2017.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017652 and 7034128. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. "Place name detail: Kakatahi". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  7. 1 2 "He Whiritaunoka: The Whanganui Land Report" (PDF). Waitangi Tribunal. Volume 1 (Wai: 903). 2015. p. 72.
  8. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  9. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  10. "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.
  11. "Kakatahi School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  12. "Kakatahi School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  13. "History". Kākātahi School. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  14. Verdonk, Sieska (27 April 2017). "Watch NZH Local Focus: Ngamatea School closes for good". New Zealand Herald.
  15. McDonald, Anne-Marie (11 April 2017). "Final farewell to Ngamatea School after roll drops to zero". Whanganui Chronicle.