Himatangi Beach

Himatangi Beach
Town
Himatangi Beach and Kaikokopu Stream from the dunes
Interactive map of Himatangi Beach
Coordinates: 40°22′18″S 175°14′06″E / 40.37167°S 175.23500°E / -40.37167; 175.23500
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictManawatū District
Ward
  • Manawatū Rural General Ward
  • Ngā Tapuae o Matangi Māori Ward
SettledEarly 1700s
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityManawatū District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Mayor of ManawatuMichael Ford[1]
 • Rangitīkei MPSuze Redmayne[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
 • Total
0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
590
 • Density620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-12 (NZST)
Postal code
5551

Himatangi Beach is a small coastal community in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 32 kilometres west of Palmerston North in the centre of the largest sand dune geographical feature in New Zealand.[6]

Demographics

Himatangi Beach is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement. It covers 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 590 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 621 people per km2. It is part of the larger Oroua Downs statistical area.[7]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006447—    
2013429−0.59%
2018510+3.52%
2023540+1.15%
Source: [8][9]

Himatangi Beach had a population of 540 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (5.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 111 people (25.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 285 males, 252 females, and 6 people of other genders in 261 dwellings.[10] 3.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 56.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 51 people (9.4%) aged under 15 years, 57 (10.6%) aged 15 to 29, 303 (56.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 129 (23.9%) aged 65 or older.[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.0% European (Pākehā), 20.6% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 1.1% Asian, and 4.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.9%, Māori by 3.9%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 3.3%. No language could be spoken by 0.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 10.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]

Religious affiliations were 25.0% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 1.1% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.6%, and 10.0% of people did not answer the census question.[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (12.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 282 (57.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 150 (30.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people (9.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 243 (49.7%) full-time, 60 (12.3%) part-time, and 9 (1.8%) unemployed.[8]

The population increases to several thousand in the summer.

See also

References

  1. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Rangitīkei - Official Result". electionresults. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ^ "About Himatangi Beach". Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Himatangi Beach (1355). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7018183–7018185.
  10. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.