Rongotea is a small rural village in the Manawatà « District of the Manawatà «-Whanganui region of New Zealand on the western Manawatà « Plains, approximately northwest of the region's main city, Palmerston North.
In the late 1860s, the Government put the Carnarvon Block up for sale, along with the neighbouring Sandon Block.
Rongotea is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>. It is part of the larger Awahuri statistical area.
Rongotea had a population of 690 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 63 people (10.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 360 males and 330 females in 264 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 147 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 114 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 303 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 126 (18.3%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.0% European (PÃÂkehÃÂ); 18.7% MÃÂori; 2.6% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, MÃÂori by 2.2%, Samoan by 0.9%, and other languages by 3.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.2% Christian, 0.4% Buddhist, 1.3% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.9%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (13.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 306 (56.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 162 (29.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (3.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 291 (53.6%) full-time, 78 (14.4%) part-time, and 9 (1.7%) unemployed.
Awahuri statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km<sup>2</sup>.
Awahuri had a population of 2,115 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 147 people (7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 351 people (19.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,074 males, 1,032 females, and 9 people of other genders in 783 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 447 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 315 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 957 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 396 (18.7%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.3% European (PÃÂkehÃÂ); 16.9% MÃÂori; 1.6% Pasifika; 2.6% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, MÃÂori by 3.3%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 4.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 29.9% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.7% MÃÂori religious beliefs, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.3%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 291 (17.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 987 (59.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 390 (23.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 174 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 909 (54.5%) full-time, 270 (16.2%) part-time, and 27 (1.6%) unemployed.
Rongotea School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of . It opened in 1881 as Campbelltown School.
Kopane School, another state primary school, is located east of the main township. with a roll of . It opened in 1925.
Both schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of