Pukawa

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Settlement in Waikato, New Zealand

title: "Pukawa" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-waikato", "taupō-district", "bays-of-waikato", "populated-places-on-lake-taupō"] description: "Settlement in Waikato, New Zealand" topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-waikato" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pukawa" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Settlement in Waikato, New Zealand ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Pukawa
native_name_lang
settlement_type	Rural locality
image_skyline	Pukawa marae.jpg
image_caption	Wharenui, Manunui-a-Ruakapanga Marae
mapframe	yes
mapframe-zoom	9
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	New Zealand
subdivision_type1	Region
subdivision_name1	Waikato region
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_name2	Taupō District
subdivision_type3	Ward
subdivision_name3	Turangi-Tongariro General Ward
leader_title	Territorial Authority
leader_name	Taupō District Council
leader_title1	Regional council
leader_name1	Waikato Regional Council
leader_title2	Mayor of Taupō
leader_name2
leader_title3	Taupō MP
leader_name3
leader_title4	Waiariki MP
leader_name4
seat_type	Electorates
seat
area_footnotes
area_total_km2	0.78
population_footnotes
population_as_of
population_total
population_density_km2	auto
postal_code_type	Postcode(s)
postal_code	3381
website
::

Pukawa or Pukawa Bay () is a bay and a small township on the southern shores of Lake Taupō on New Zealand's North Island. It is off State Highway 41 between Turangi and Taumarunui, in the Taupō District and Waikato region.

Marae

It is home of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Manunui, who established the Pūkawa Marae and Manunui a Ruakapanga meeting house in November 2006. The opening ceremony was attended by Tūheitia Paki, the Māori King.

Pōtatau Te Wherowhero was formally selected as king by a conference of chiefs of the Māori tribes held at Pukawa in April 1857 and was crowned during elaborate ceremonies held at his marae in Ngāruawāhia in April 1858.

In 1906 Ngāti Tūwharetoa and the Tongariro Timber Company struck an agreement for the construction of a 40-mile railway line from Kakahi (on the main trunk line) to Pukawa. This line was never completed.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Pukawa as a rural settlement, which includes Oreti and covers 0.78 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupo Bays statistical area.

Pukawa had a population of 57 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (18.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (58.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 27 males and 33 females in 45 dwellings. 5.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 61.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6 people (10.5%) aged under 15 years, 3 (5.3%) aged 15 to 29, 27 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (42.1%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.7% European (Pākehā), 31.6% Māori, 5.3% Pasifika, and 10.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 15.8%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 5.3% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 10.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 31.6% Christian, 5.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 5.3% Buddhist. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.6%, and 5.3% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (47.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 30 (58.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 9 (17.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (11.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 18 (35.3%) full-time and 6 (11.8%) part-time.

Lake Taupō Bays statistical area

The statistical area of Lake Taupō Bays covers 1154.30 km2 to the south and west of Lake Taupō. It includes Whareroa Village, Kuratau, Ōmori, Motuoapa, and Tauranga Taupō, and surrounds but does not include Tūrangi. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Lake Taupō Bays had a population of 1,854 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 288 people (18.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 276 people (17.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 963 males, 891 females, and 3 people of other genders in 837 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 297 people (16.0%) aged under 15 years, 228 (12.3%) aged 15 to 29, 807 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 522 (28.2%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 71.7% European (Pākehā); 43.5% Māori; 3.2% Pasifika; 1.5% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori by 15.0%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 28.8% Christian, 9.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.0%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 288 (18.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 918 (59.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 357 (22.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 120 people (7.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 654 (42.0%) full-time, 234 (15.0%) part-time, and 42 (2.7%) unemployed.

Pukawa School

A native school run by the Church of England was operating in Pukawa in 1862, but closed by January 1863 after four boys drowned and there was a shortage of food.

Notable people

Bessie Te Wenerau Grace, teacher, first Māori woman university graduate

References

"Map of Pukawa on Lake Taupo". J C S Maps.
"Te Kāhui Māngai directory". [[Te Puni Kōkiri]].
"Māori Maps". Te Potiki National Trust.
"Thousands Expected At New Pukawa Marae". newswire.co.nz.
"Pictures: Māori Monarchs since 1858". [[New Zealand Media and Entertainment]].
Cowan, James. "Chapter 16: The Maori King". [[New Zealand Electronic Text Centre]].
"Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
{{NZ census 2018. 7013294
"Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
"Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
"Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
{{NZ census 2018. Lake Taupo Bays (187900). lake-taupo-bays. Lake Taupo Bays
"Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
"Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
(5 January 1864). "Parliamentary Papers". New Zealander.

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