Several Māori land blocks are located in the hill country north-east of the junction, including a 157.7-hectare (390-acre) lot with 87 owners and a 52.5-hectare (130-acre) lot with 173 owners.[2]
The area's windy gravel roads may have been a factor in a fatal crash in 2008.[3]
GNS Science recorded slight landsliding on the hills between Papanui Junction and Kakatahi during flooding in June 2015.[4]
Education
Papanui Junction School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[5] with a roll of 10 as of August 2024.[1] It is the most isolated school in the wider Taihape area.[6]
The school held a commemorative Daffodil Day in August 2016 to commemorate a local man who was heavily involved in the school, who had recently died of cancer.[7]
Papaunui Junction School is a sole charge school due to its low roll. In June 2018, the New Zealand Educational Institute campaigned for better conditions for the sole charge principal.[8]
NR - consists of former Taihape Ward and partially northern part of former Hunterville Ward since 2019; CR - consisted of former Marton Ward, most of southern part of Hunterville Ward and partially northern part of Turakina Ward since 2019; SR - consisted of Bulls Ward and most of southern part of Turakina Ward since 2019