Koputaroa

Koputaroa
Rural locality
Interactive map of Koputaroa
Coordinates: 40°34′41″S 175°20′17″E / 40.578°S 175.338°E / -40.578; 175.338
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui region
Territorial authorityHorowhenua District
Wards
  • Waiopehu General Ward
  • Horowhenua Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHorowhenua District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Horowhenua MayorBernie Wanden[1]
 • Ōtaki MPTim Costley[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
 • Total
118.76 km2 (45.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[5]
 • Total
858
 • Density7.22/km2 (18.7/sq mi)

Koputaroa, Koputāroa or Kōputaroa[6] is a rural community in the Horowhenua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

It is located south of Shannon and north of Levin on State Highway 57. It had a railway station from 1886[7] to 1986.[8]

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "long snare for catching parakeets" for Kōputaroa.[9]

Demographics

Koputaroa locality covers 118.76 km2 (45.85 sq mi),[4] and includes Poroutawhao. It is split between the Makahika, Kere Kere and Waitārere statistical areas.[10]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006705—    
2013690−0.31%
2018768+2.17%
2023858+2.24%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 122.45 km2.
Source: [5][11]

Koputaroa had a population of 858 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 90 people (11.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 168 people (24.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 432 males and 432 females in 324 dwellings.[12] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 168 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 126 (14.7%) aged 15 to 29, 423 (49.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 144 (16.8%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.1% European (Pākehā), 20.3% Māori, 4.2% Pasifika, 5.2% Asian, and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 3.8%, and other languages by 5.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 28.7% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 1.0% New Age, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.1%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 129 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 405 (58.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 162 (23.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 78 people (11.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 369 (53.5%) full-time, 114 (16.5%) part-time, and 6 (0.9%) unemployed.[5]

Marae

The local Kererū Marae and Mahinārangi meeting house are a meeting place of the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Takihiku and Ngāti Ngārongo.[13][14]

In October 2020, the Government committed $335,056 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Kikopiri Marae and Kererū Marae, creating 48 jobs.[15]

Education

Koputaroa School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[16] established in 1891.[17] The school roll is 180 as of October 2025.[18]

References

  1. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Ōtaki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7018910, 7018971, 7018977, 7034388, 7034392 and 7034393. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Horowhenua". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  7. ^ "MANAWATU RAILWAY COMPANY, LIMITED TIME TABLE. EVENING POST". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 July 1886. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  8. ^ Scoble, Juliet. "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand 1863 to 2010" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2018.
  9. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  11. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7018910, 7018965, 7018971, 7018977 and 7018978.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  14. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  15. ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  16. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  17. ^ "Official School Website". koputaroa.school.nz.
  18. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.