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Te Puru
Te Puru
	View from a bach at Te Puru
	Coordinates: 37°2′48″S 175°31′18″E / 37.04667°S 175.52167°E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
District	Thames-Coromandel District
Ward	Thames ward
Community Board	Thames Community
Electorates	Coromandel; Hauraki-Waikato;
Government
• Council	Thames-Coromandel District Council
Area
• Total	1.96 km2 (0.76 sq mi)
Population (June 2024)
• Total	570
• Density	290/km2 (750/sq mi)

Te Puru is a locality on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand. State Highway 25 runs through it. Tapu lies about 7 km to the north, and Thames is about 12 km to the south.^[3]^[4] The Te Puru Stream and about 18 tributaries drain a steep hilly 23 km² area of the Coromandel Range, almost entirely covered by native forest. It runs through the settlement and into the Firth of Thames to the west. Flooding has been a problem.^[5]

Te Puru track runs between Te Puru and Tapu-Coroglen road, intersecting with Waiomu Valley and Crosbies Main Range tramping tracks on the way.^[6]

Demographics

Te Puru is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.96 km² (0.76 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 570 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 291 people per km². Te Puru is part of the larger Thames Coast statistical area.

Historical population of Te Puru
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	540	—
2013	504	−0.98%
2018	537	+1.28%
Source: ^[7]

Te Puru had a population of 537 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (6.5%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 3 people (−0.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 228 households, comprising 267 males and 270 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female, with 66 people (12.3%) aged under 15 years, 45 (8.4%) aged 15 to 29, 222 (41.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 201 (37.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.9% European/Pākehā, 20.1% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 2.8% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.4% had no religion, 30.7% were Christian, 1.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu, 0.6% were Buddhist and 3.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (12.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 141 (29.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 33 people (7.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 135 (28.7%) people were employed full-time, 78 (16.6%) were part-time, and 24 (5.1%) were unemployed.^[7]

Thames Coast statistical area

Thames Coast statistical area, which also includes Tapu, Waiomu, Thornton Bay and Ngarimu Bay, covers 116.11 km² (44.83 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,780 as of June 2024,^[8] with a population density of 15 people per km².

Historical population for Thames Coast
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,710	—
2013	1,533	−1.55%
2018	1,704	+2.14%
Source: ^[9]

Thames Coast had a population of 1,704 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 171 people (11.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−0.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 717 households, comprising 846 males and 858 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 58.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 198 people (11.6%) aged under 15 years, 162 (9.5%) aged 15 to 29, 735 (43.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 606 (35.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 89.6% European/Pākehā, 19.0% Māori, 1.8% Pacific peoples, 1.8% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.0% had no religion, 34.0% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 234 (15.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 372 (24.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 141 people (9.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 471 (31.3%) people were employed full-time, 258 (17.1%) were part-time, and 60 (4.0%) were unemployed.^[9]

Education

Te Puru School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 180 students as of August 2024.^[10]^[11]

History

Te Puru suffered severe flooding in 2002, when a low-pressure system led to extensive flooding on the Coromandel Peninsula and the south-west Waikato region.^[12] Te Puru and Waiomu were included in the ‘high impact’ area of the storm.^[13] Private and public property was damaged during the flood.