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Pongakawa is a rural community in the Bay of Plenty of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 2 runs through it.

The name of the settlement comes from Māori terms meaning "Bitter ferns".

Demographics

Pongakawa statistical area, which also includes Paengaroa, covers 389.03 km (150.21 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,750 as of June 2024, with a population density of 9.6 people per km.

Pongakawa had a population of 3,081 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 408 people (15.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 381 people (14.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,080 households, comprising 1,602 males and 1,476 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 36.7 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 741 people (24.1%) aged under 15 years, 522 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,464 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 354 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.3% European/Pākehā, 23.4% Māori, 1.9% Pacific peoples, 4.3% Asian, and 2.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.4% had no religion, 28.0% were Christian, 1.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 3.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 270 (11.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 519 (22.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 396 people (16.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,362 (58.2%) people were employed full-time, 399 (17.1%) were part-time, and 54 (2.3%) were unemployed.

Marae

The local Tokerau Marae and Pikiao meeting house are a traditional meeting ground of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe.

Education

Pongakawa School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 300 as of August 2024.

References

1. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
2. NZTA: Tauranga Eastern Link – Frequently Asked Questions
3. Reed, A.W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 333.
4. "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
5. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Pongakawa (192500). 2018 Census place summary: Pongakawa
6. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
7. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
8. "Pongakawa School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
9. "Pongakawa School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.

• Western Bay of Plenty District
• Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region