Place in Taranaki Region, New Zealand
| Uruti | |
|---|---|
 The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township | |
| Coordinates: 38°56′40″S 174°31′42″E / 38.94444°S 174.52833°E / -38.94444; 174.52833 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki Region |
| Territorial authority | New Plymouth District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Clifton Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | New Plymouth District Council |
| • Regional council | Taranaki Regional Council |
Uruti is a locality in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3, north-east of Mimi and south-west of Ahititi. The Uruti Stream meets the Mimi River at this point. The river flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.
A district nurse was appointed to serve the backblocks of the Uruti Valley in 1909. This was the first district nursing service in New Zealand.
The Uruti tunnel links the Uruti Valley with the main highway. It was completed in 1923 and is the longest and most unstable tunnel in Taranaki.
The 1984 film Vigil was filmed at Uruti. Much of the 2003 film The Last Samurai was filmed in the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki/Egmont standing in for Mount Fuji.
Demographics
Mount Messenger statistical area, which includes the localities of Mimi, Uruti, Ahititi and Tongapōrutu, covers 934.28 km (360.73 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 930 as of June 2024, with a population density of 1.0 people per km.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 756 | — |
| 2013 | 822 | +1.20% |
| 2018 | 864 | +1.00% |
| Source: | ||
Mount Messenger had a population of 864 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (5.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 108 people (14.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 309 households, comprising 441 males and 423 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 216 people (25.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 420 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.2% European/Pākehā, 22.6% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 9.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.9% had no religion, 32.3% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (51.4%) people were employed full-time, 117 (18.1%) were part-time, and 21 (3.2%) were unemployed.
Education
Uruti School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 10 students as of August 2024. The school celebrated its centennial in 1998.
Notes
- Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 35. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
- Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 74. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
- Maclean, Hester (1932). "XVI. Back-Block District Nursing". Nursing in New Zealand: History and Reminiscences. pp. 86–87.
- "MACLEAN, Hester, R.R.C.". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
- Bartle, Rhonda (17 February 2005). "Road Tunnels of Taranaki". Puke Ariki. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
- "Vigil film set". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
- "The Last Samurai New Zealand Film Location". Tourism New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Mount Messenger (219200). 2018 Census place summary: Mount Messenger
- "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- Education Counts: Uruti School
- "Jubilees & reunions: Uruti School". Education Gazette New Zealand. 75 (17). 30 September 1996.
Further reading
General historical works
- Brooks, Glenwyss (comp.) (1995). How green was our valley: collected memories of Uruti. New Plymouth, : Aries Print. ISBN 0-473-02685-6.
Business
- 1904-1954, golden jubilee / with the compliments of the Uruti Valley Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited. New Plymouth, : Avery Print. 1954.
Schools
- Uruti School 60th jubilee: in conjunction with Messenger, Musker’s, Pehu: 16th-18th May 1958. Uruti, ; New Plymouth, : Jubilee Committee, 1958; Taranaki Daily News Co. Ltd. 1958.
- Wilson, Christine; Brooks, Glenwyss (comps.). Uruti School, 1898-1998: in celebration of 100 years. New Plymouth, : Uruti School Centennial Committee. ISBN 0473059207.