Pōtatau Te Wherowhero was formally selected as king by a conference of chiefs of the Māori tribes held at Pukawa in April 1857 and was crowned during elaborate ceremonies held at his marae in Ngāruawāhia in April 1858.[7]
In 1906 Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Tongariro Timber Company struck an agreement for the construction of a 40-mile railway line from Kakahi (on the main trunk line) to Pukawa. This line was never completed.[8]
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Pukawa as a rural settlement, which includes Oreti and covers 0.78 km2 (0.30 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 50 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 64 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupo Bays statistical area.
Before the 2023 census, the settlement had a larger boundary, covering 6.09 km2 (2.35 sq mi) and included Ōmori.[1] Using that boundary, the settlement had a population of 213 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (24.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3 people (1.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 99 households, comprising 108 males and 108 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 61.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 24 people (11.3%) aged under 15 years, 21 (9.9%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (38.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 87 (40.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 81.7% European/Pākehā, 31.0% Māori, 1.4% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.3% had no religion, 42.3% were Christian, and 1.4% had Māori religious beliefs.
Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (22.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 30 (15.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 30 people (15.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 66 (34.9%) people were employed full-time, 24 (12.7%) were part-time, and 6 (3.2%) were unemployed.[9]
Lake Taupo Bays statistical area
The statistical area of Lake Taupo Bays covers 1,154.30 km2 (445.68 sq mi)[1] square kilometres to the south and west of Lake Taupo. It surrounds but does not include Tūrangi. It had an estimated population of 1,780 as of June 2024,[10] with a population density of 1.5 people per km2.
Lake Taupo Bays had a population of 1,566 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−0.8%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 54 people (−3.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 645 households, comprising 810 males and 756 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 52.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 267 people (17.0%) aged under 15 years, 174 (11.1%) aged 15 to 29, 687 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 438 (28.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 69.2% European/Pākehā, 41.0% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 2.3% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 11.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.3% had no religion, 36.4% were Christian, 7.7% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 219 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (18.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 174 people (13.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 552 (42.5%) people were employed full-time, 189 (14.5%) were part-time, and 48 (3.7%) were unemployed.[11]
