Te Pōhue

Te Pōhue
Interactive map of Te Pōhue
Coordinates: 39°15′S 176°41′E / 39.250°S 176.683°E / -39.250; 176.683
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay
Territorial authorityHastings District
Ward
  • Mohaka General Ward
  • Takitimu Māori Ward
CommunityHastings District Rural Community
SubdivisionTūtira subdivision
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHastings District Council
 • Mayor of HastingsWendy Schollum[3]
 • Napier MPKatie Nimon[4]
 • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MPCushla Tangaere-Manuel[5]
Area
 • Total
446.46 km2 (172.38 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[2]
 • Total
486
 • Density1.09/km2 (2.82/sq mi)

Te Pōhue is a small settlement in inland Hawke's Bay, in New Zealand's eastern North Island. It lies on State Highway 5, 31 kilometres inland from Whirinaki.[6]

The remote settlement was once on a Māori track cutting across the tribal boundaries of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, two tribes who had made peace after a conflict. The modern settlement began as a hotel for travellers in the 1870s, when the original Napier to Taupo coach road was being cut through what was then a dense forest.[7]

Two wind farms were approved for the area in 2006, despite some opposition from local residents.[8] An application for the expansion of one on Te Waka Range was declined in 2007 and again in 2009.[9] Harapaki Wind Farm opened in 2024.[10]

Demographics

Te Pōhue and its surrounds cover 446.46 km2 (172.38 sq mi).[1] It is part of the Puketitiri-Tutira statistical area.[11]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006339—    
2013363+0.98%
2018408+2.36%
2023486+3.56%
The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 405.79 km2.
Source: [2][12]

Te Pōhue had a population of 486 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (19.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 123 people (33.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 264 males and 225 females in 177 dwellings.[13] 1.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 114 people (23.5%) aged under 15 years, 84 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 231 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 57 (11.7%) aged 65 or older.[2]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.9% European (Pākehā); 21.0% Māori; 5.6% Pasifika; 4.3% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 8.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 2.5%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 5.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[2]

Religious affiliations were 38.9% Christian, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% New Age, 0.6% Jewish, and 0.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.7%, and 6.2% of people did not answer the census question.[2]

Of those at least 15 years old, 66 (17.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 201 (54.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 108 (29.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 30 people (8.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 210 (56.5%) full-time, 51 (13.7%) part-time, and 3 (0.8%) unemployed.[2]

Education

Te Pohue School is co-educational state primary school catering for years 1 to 8,[14] with a roll of 17 as of October 2025.[15][16] It opened in 1897 and moved to its current location in the early 20th century.[17]

Climate

Climate data for Esk Forest, elevation 427 m (1,401 ft), (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.2
(72.0)
21.7
(71.1)
19.9
(67.8)
16.8
(62.2)
14.2
(57.6)
11.8
(53.2)
10.9
(51.6)
11.7
(53.1)
13.9
(57.0)
16.3
(61.3)
18.4
(65.1)
20.4
(68.7)
16.5
(61.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.2
(63.0)
17.0
(62.6)
15.4
(59.7)
12.6
(54.7)
10.4
(50.7)
8.1
(46.6)
7.3
(45.1)
7.9
(46.2)
9.8
(49.6)
11.8
(53.2)
13.6
(56.5)
15.7
(60.3)
12.2
(54.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.2
(54.0)
12.3
(54.1)
10.9
(51.6)
8.5
(47.3)
6.6
(43.9)
4.4
(39.9)
3.8
(38.8)
4.0
(39.2)
5.7
(42.3)
7.2
(45.0)
8.9
(48.0)
11.1
(52.0)
8.0
(46.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 102.4
(4.03)
134.0
(5.28)
217.6
(8.57)
164.7
(6.48)
144.1
(5.67)
168.1
(6.62)
150.7
(5.93)
160.3
(6.31)
181.8
(7.16)
123.3
(4.85)
83.6
(3.29)
162.3
(6.39)
1,792.9
(70.58)
Source: NIWA (rain 1971–2000)[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  2. ^ 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. 7015810, 7033668 and 7033669. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  3. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Napier - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 1 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  6. ^ Hariss, Gavin. "Te Pohue, Bay of Plenty". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  7. ^ Pollock, Kerryn. "Roadside Stories: Te Pōhue, travellers' stop". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  8. ^ Gullery, Lawrence (20 July 2006). "Environment Court says yes to Te Pohue turbines". APN News & Media. Hawke's Bay Today.
  9. ^ Sharpe, Marty (20 March 2009). "Maori issues cited as wind farm declined". Stuff.
  10. ^ "Harapaki, NZ's 2nd-biggest wind farm, goes fully operational". The New Zealand Herald. 19 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  12. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015810, 7015813 and 7015814.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  15. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  17. ^ "King, Joseph John (Joe) Interview". Hawke's Bay Digital Knowledge Trust. 26 January 2017.
  18. ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Esk Forest". NIWA. Retrieved 20 May 2024.