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Mangaweka
Mangaweka
	Mangaweka's historical area in 2011
	Coordinates: 39°48′S 175°47′E / 39.800°S 175.783°E}
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
District	Rangitikei District
Wards	Northern General Ward; Tiikeitia ki Uta (Inland) Māori Ward;
Community	Taihape Community
Electorates	Rangitīkei; Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori);
Government
• Territorial Authority	Rangitikei District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council
Area
• Total	0.47 km2 (0.18 sq mi)
Population (June 2024)
• Total	90
• Density	190/km2 (500/sq mi)

Mangaweka is a township on State Highway One (SH1) in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located between Taihape to the north and Hunterville to the south,^[3] has a population of just under 200. The Rangitīkei River, adjacent to the township, is popular for rafting, kayaking, fishing and swimming.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "weka stream" for Mangaweka.^[4]

History

Development at Mangaweka began with clearance of the forest for the North Island Main Trunk Railway. A shelter called Three Log Whare was built. From 1894 it had a mail link 3 times a week with Ohingaiti.^[5]

Attractions

State Highway 1 was re-located in the early 1980s, leaving the former main street as a historic precinct. As a result, the settlement has become a tourist attraction. The township is of interest not only for its historic main street, but also because of the growing artists' community.

The Department of Conservation have several scenic reserve walks around Mangaweka including one that includes a section of the former North Island Main Trunk railway line and tunnels that was replaced by a deviation in 1981.^[6]^[7]

Other major features close to the town include some of the country's biggest railway viaducts on the Mangaweka deviation.^[8] Nearby, the Rangitikei River canyon provides the setting for the southern hemisphere's highest flying fox, an 80m bungy jump, as well as a The Lord of the Rings film location.^{[citation needed]}

DC3 aircraft

For over 30 years, a well-known landmark in Mangaweka was an elevated Douglas DC-3 aircraft installed in the middle of the town as a tearooms,^[9] adjacent to a service station on SH1. The aircraft was built for the US Airforce in 1945 but was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Airforce. It had 700 hours of service with the RNZAF 40 Squadron. In 1947 it was sold to the New Zealand National Airways Corporation registered as ZK-APK,^[10] and given the name Poaka.^[10] The aircraft was equipped with larger viewing windows in 1964, and became part of the airline's Skyliner fleet. It was in commercial passenger service from 1947 until 1969. It was then used for top-dressing operations until being withdrawn from service in 1981, having completed a total of 42,764 flying hours.^[11]

The aircraft was installed as an attraction in Mangaweka in 1984 by the owners of the local service station, to help promote their river adventure company.^[10]

By 2018, the future of the aircraft was uncertain.^[12] In 2021 the plane was moved to Shannon for restoration and in 2023, the aircraft was put up for sale.^[10]

Demographics

Mangaweka is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.47 km² (0.18 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 90 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 191 people per km². It is part of the larger Mokai Patea statistical area.

Historical population for Mangaweka
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	111	—
2013	105	−0.79%
2018	90	−3.04%
Source: ^[13]

Mangaweka had a population of 90 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−14.3%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 21 people (−18.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 39 households, comprising 45 males and 42 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 48.4 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 18 people (20.0%) aged under 15 years, 6 (6.7%) aged 15 to 29, 42 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (23.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.0% European/Pākehā, 13.3% Māori, 3.3% Pacific peoples, and 3.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.0% had no religion, 40.0% were Christian and 3.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3 (4.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 21 (29.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $21,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6 people (8.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24 (33.3%) people were employed full-time, 24 (33.3%) were part-time, and 3 (4.2%) were unemployed.^[13]

Mokai Patea statistical area

The Mokai Patea statistical area includes Pukeokahu, Moawhango, Mataroa, Papanui Junction, and Taoroa Junction, and surrounds but does not include Taihape. Mokai Patea covers 2,474.89 km² (955.56 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,890 as of June 2024,^[14] with a population density of 0.8 people per km².

Historical population for Mokai Patea
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,911	—
2013	1,761	−1.16%
2018	1,716	−0.52%
Source: ^[15]

Mokai Patea had a population of 1,716 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 45 people (−2.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 195 people (−10.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 657 households, comprising 915 males and 801 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.14 males per female. The median age was 41.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 342 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 291 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 822 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 258 (15.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 87.1% European/Pākehā, 21.5% Māori, 1.4% Pacific peoples, 0.5% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 7.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.9% had no religion, 40.7% were Christian, 1.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 189 (13.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 285 (20.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 192 people (14.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 813 (59.2%) people were employed full-time, 282 (20.5%) were part-time, and 27 (2.0%) were unemployed.^[15]

Education

Mangaweka School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[16]^[17] with a roll of 30 as of November 2024.^[18]

Notable people

Notable people who have lived or worked in Mangaweka include the New Zealand poet Sam Hunt and the artist Robin White (whose iconic "Mangaweka" painting hangs in Te Papa).The town also hosts an annual "Fakes & Forgeries Art Exhibition and Festival" in October and November.^[6] Karl Sim the notorious New Zealand art forger was born in the town,^[19] and was a regular attendee at the festival until his death in 2013. Clement Gordon Watson, an editor, journalist, World War Two soldier and communist activist was also born in Mangaweka.^[20]