Puketotara

Puketotara () is a rural community in the Ōtorohanga District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "totara hill" for .

Demographics

Puketotara covers . It is part of the larger Honikiwi statistical area.

Puketotara had a population of 435 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 21 people (−4.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (18.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 219 males and 213 females in 150 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 111 people (25.5%) aged under 15 years, 63 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 219 (50.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (11.0%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.2% European (Pākehā), 23.4% Māori, 2.1% Pasifika, 3.4% Asian, and 4.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori by 2.8%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 0.7% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 17.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 24.1% Christian, 0.7% New Age, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.1%, and 10.3% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 69 (21.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 186 (57.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 66 (20.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 48 people (14.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 192 (59.3%) full-time, 57 (17.6%) part-time, and 9 (2.8%) unemployed.

Marae

Hīona Marae, a meeting place of the Ngāti Maniapoto hapū of Pourahui, is affiliated with Waikato Tainui.

It has two meeting houses: Haona Kaha and Te Awananui.

In October 2020, the Government committed $2,584,751 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 5 other Waikato Tainui marae, creating 69 jobs.

Education

Ngutunui School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school with a roll of as of It opened in 1914.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "big lips" for Ngutunui.

References