Tahuna is a small rural settlement located 18 km north of Morrinsville. In the Māori language Tahuna means sandbank, likely to refer to the sandbanks along the nearby Piako River, where a Māori settlement started. Tahuna is seen as the upper limit for navigatable travel on the Piako River.[3] The settlement has a rugby club, a lawn bowls club, a golf course and various shops.[4]

Tahuna
Map
Coordinates: 37°30′05″S 175°29′39″E / 37.501475°S 175.494258°E / -37.501475; 175.494258
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato
DistrictMatamata-Piako District
WardMorrinsville Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityMatamata-Piako District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
Area
 • Total10.64 km2 (4.11 sq mi)
Population
 (2018 Census)[2]
 • Total183
 • Density17/km2 (45/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
3373
Area code07
Kopu and barge unloading at Tahuna in 1922. Steamers continued for another 5 years

Although Tahuna is in the Matamata-Piako District for local government, its representation in national government is within the Coromandel electorate due to the abolition of the Piako electorate for the 2008 election.[5]

A town water supply was proposed in the 1980s and installed in the 2000s.[4]

Marae

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There are two marae in the Tahuna area:

  • The Waiti-Raungaunu marae and Paoa meeting house are also associated with the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Makirangi, and with the iwi of Ngāti Paoa.
  • Hoe o Tainui marae and surrounding settlement is affiliated with Ngāti Makirangi.[6][7]

Demographics

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Tahuna is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 10.64 km2 (4.11 sq mi).[1] The SA1 area is part of the larger Tahuna-Mangateparu statistical area.

Historical population for Tahuna settlement
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006180—    
2013195+1.15%
2018183−1.26%
Source: [2]

Tahuna had a population of 183 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−6.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3 people (1.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 72 households, comprising 93 males and 90 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 40.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 36 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 39 (21.3%) aged 15 to 29, 72 (39.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (18.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.2% European/Pākehā, 8.2% Māori, 1.6% Pacific peoples, and 8.2% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 63.9% had no religion, 24.6% were Christian, 1.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 6.6% were Hindu, 1.6% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (10.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 48 (32.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (10.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 75 (51.0%) people were employed full-time, 18 (12.2%) were part-time, and 3 (2.0%) were unemployed.[2]

Tahuna-Mangateparu statistical area

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Tahuna-Mangateparu statistical area, which includes Mangateparu, covers 238.92 km2 (92.25 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,730 as of June 2024,[8] with a population density of 7.2 people per km2.

Historical population for Tahuna-Mangateparu
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,419—    
20131,491+0.71%
20181,569+1.03%
Source: [9]

Tahuna-Mangateparu had a population of 1,569 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (5.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 150 people (10.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 567 households, comprising 816 males and 753 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 37.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 384 people (24.5%) aged under 15 years, 267 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 729 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (12.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.5% European/Pākehā, 13.2% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 3.6% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.4% had no religion, 30.4% were Christian, 0.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 153 (12.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 291 (24.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 213 people (18.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 678 (57.2%) people were employed full-time, 198 (16.7%) were part-time, and 30 (2.5%) were unemployed.[9]

Education

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Tahuna School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[10][11] with a roll of 104 as of August 2024.[12] The school opened in 1905.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7011436.
  3. ^ "Early Shipping". www.ohinemuri.org.nz.
  4. ^ a b "Tahuna township - The challenges of treating and discharging wastewater to the local environment". waternz.org.nz. Water New Zealand.
  5. ^ "Final Electorate Boundaries". elections.org.nz. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  7. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  8. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Tahuna-Mangateparu (173500). 2018 Census place summary: Tahuna-Mangateparu
  10. ^ "Official School Website". tahunaschool.school.nz.
  11. ^ Education Counts: Tahuna School
  12. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  13. ^ "Tahuna School 1905-1980 : 75th jubilee and district reunion - archive record". National Library of New Zealand. 1980.