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Waitōtara is a town in South Taranaki, New Zealand. Waverley is 10 km to the north-west, and Whanganui is 34 km to the south-east. State Highway 3 passes through it. The Waitōtara River flows past the east side of the town.

More than 30 homes were evacuated during flooding in February 2004.

A local freezing works is a major employer.

Demographics

Waitōtara is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.25 km (0.097 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 80 as of June 2024, with a population density of 320 people per km. It is part of the wider Manutahi-Waitotora statistical area.

Waitōtara had a population of 72 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (9.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (9.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 39 households, comprising 42 males and 30 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.4 males per female. The median age was 54.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 6 (8.3%) aged 15 to 29, 33 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (29.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 70.8% European/Pākehā, and 33.3% Māori. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.3% had no religion, 29.2% were Christian, and 4.2% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (40.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $23,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24 (40.0%) people were employed full-time, 9 (15.0%) were part-time, and 6 (10.0%) were unemployed.

Marae

Waitōtara has marae associated with the hapū of Ngā Rauru Kītahi:

• Te Ihupuku Marae and Te Kawerau and Karepoonia are affiliated with Ngāti Hinewaiata.
• Kaipō or Wharetapapa Marae and its Tokanuhea III meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Hou Tipua.
• Takirau Marae and Ko Te Marunga Nui o Pourua meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Pourua.
• Tauranga Ika Marae and Te Aputa ki Wairau meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Ruaiti.
• Waipapa Marae and Ngā Paiaka meeting house are affiliated with Ngā Ariki.

In October 2020, the Government committed $522,926 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Te Ihupuku Marae, Waipapa Marae and Te Aroha Marae, creating 92 jobs.

Education

Waitotara School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 32 students as of August 2024. The school was founded in 1874.

See also

• Pehimana
• Waitotara (New Zealand electorate)

References

1. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
2. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 44. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
4. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 104. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
5. "Cyclone set to miss NZ but heavy rain coming". The New Zealand Herald. 26 February 2004.
6. Maslin, John (15 May 2008). "Dannevirke works closure could mean expansion at Waitotara". Wanganui Chronicle.
7. 2018 Census place summary: Manutahi-Waitotora
8. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017544.
9. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
10. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
11. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
12. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
13. Education Counts: Waitotara School
14. "Welcome to Waitotara School". Waitotara School.

• South Taranaki District
• Populated places in Taranaki