Ruatoria

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Town in the Gisborne District of New Zealand

title: "Ruatoria" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-the-gisborne-district"] description: "Town in the Gisborne District of New Zealand" topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-the-gisborne-district" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruatoria" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in the Gisborne District of New Zealand ::

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

FieldValue
nameRuatoria
native_nameRua-a-Tōrea (Māori)
native_name_langmri
settlement_typeTown
image_skylineHinetapora Wharenui at Mangahanea Marae.jpg
image_captionThe meeting house at the Mangahanea Marae
mapframeyes
mapframe-zoom6
coordinates
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameNew Zealand
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Gisborne Region
subdivision_type2Ward
subdivision_name2Tairāwhiti General Ward
subdivision_type3Iwi (Tribe)
subdivision_name3Ngāti Porou
seat_typeElectorates
seat
leader_titleTerritorial authority
leader_nameGisborne District Council
leader_title2Mayor of Gisborne
leader_name2
leader_title3East Coast MP
leader_name3
leader_title4Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP
leader_name4
unit_prefMetric
elevation_min_m25
elevation_min_footnotes
elevation_max_m75
elevation_max_footnotes
area_footnotes
area_total_km213.19
population_footnotes
population_as_of
population_total
population_density_km2auto
timezone1NZST
utc_offset1+12
timezone1_DSTNZDT
utc_offset1_DST+13
postal_code_typePostcode
postal_code4032
area_code06
::

| name = Ruatoria | native_name = Rua-a-Tōrea (Māori) | native_name_lang = mri | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Hinetapora Wharenui at Mangahanea Marae.jpg | image_caption = The meeting house at the Mangahanea Marae | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 6 | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Gisborne Region | subdivision_type2 = Ward | subdivision_name2 = Tairāwhiti General Ward | subdivision_type3 = Iwi (Tribe) | subdivision_name3 = Ngāti Porou | seat_type = Electorates | seat = | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Gisborne District Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Gisborne | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = East Coast MP | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | leader_name4 = | unit_pref = Metric | elevation_min_m = 25 | elevation_min_footnotes = | elevation_max_m = 75 | elevation_max_footnotes = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 13.19 | population_footnotes = | population_as_of = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | population_est = | pop_est_as_of = | timezone1 = NZST | utc_offset1 = +12 | timezone1_DST = NZDT | utc_offset1_DST = +13 | postal_code_type = Postcode | postal_code = 4032 | area_code = 06 Ruatoria () is a town in the Waiapu Valley of the Gisborne Region in the northeastern corner of New Zealand's North Island. The town was originally known as Cross Roads then Manutahi and was later named Ruatorea in 1913, after the Māori Master female grower Tōrea who had some of the finest storage pits in her Iwi at the time (Te-Rua-a-Tōrea). In 1925 the name was altered to "Ruatoria", although some texts retain the original spelling.

Ruatoria's Whakarua Park is the home of the East Coast Rugby Football Union.

Demographics

Stats NZ describes Ruatoria as a rural settlement, which covers 13.19 km2. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the larger Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area.

Ruatōria had a population of 876 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 117 people (15.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 156 people (21.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 435 males and 441 females in 237 dwellings. 0.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 29.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 270 people (30.8%) aged under 15 years, 177 (20.2%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (37.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 21.2% European (Pākehā), 94.2% Māori, 3.8% Pasifika, 1.4% Asian, and 0.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.5%, Māori by 44.2%, and other languages by 1.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 31.8% Christian, 5.8% Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.7%, and 11.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (9.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 351 (57.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 201 (33.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (2.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 201 (33.2%) full-time, 63 (10.4%) part-time, and 48 (7.9%) unemployed.

The town is known for its population of Maori Rastafarians.

Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area

Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area covers 693.32 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Ruatōria-Raukumara had a population of 1,443 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 210 people (17.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 240 people (20.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 750 males, 690 females, and 3 people of other genders in 420 dwellings. 0.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 408 people (28.3%) aged under 15 years, 258 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 570 (39.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 207 (14.3%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 21.0% European (Pākehā); 93.1% Māori; 4.0% Pasifika; 0.8% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.1%, Māori by 44.5%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 1.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 32.6% Christian, 6.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 1.2% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.9%, and 10.8% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 102 (9.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 591 (57.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 339 (32.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 27 people (2.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 327 (31.6%) full-time, 114 (11.0%) part-time, and 69 (6.7%) unemployed.

Geography

As the crow flies, Ruatoria is approximately 90 km north-northeast of Gisborne, and 30 km southwest of the East Cape Lighthouse. By road it is 128 km from Gisborne, 3 km off State Highway 35. It is at the bottom of the Waiapu Valley on the banks of the Waiapu River just downstream of where the river is formed by the joining of the Mata and Tapuaeroa Rivers.

Climate

Precipitation is prodigiously high — the annual average precipitation total approaches 2000 mm. Precipitation is heavy all year-round, yet is particularly prodigious in the austral winter months from May to September. On 7 February 1973, Ruatoria had the highest ever air temperature recorded in the North Island (39.2 C), the same day the nation's highest temperature was recorded in the South Island town of Rangiora (42.4 C).

|metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Ruatoria (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1962–1996) | Jan record high C = 38.9 | Feb record high C = 39.2 | Mar record high C = 35.0 | Apr record high C = 28.6 | May record high C = 24.6 | Jun record high C = 22.7 | Jul record high C = 20.4 | Aug record high C = 21.4 | Sep record high C = 25.2 | Oct record high C = 31.5 | Nov record high C = 32.5 | Dec record high C = 35.2 | year record high C = 39.2 |Jan record low C = 5.1 |Feb record low C = 3.3 |Mar record low C = 2.9 |Apr record low C = 0.3 |May record low C = -2.3 |Jun record low C = -4.2 |Jul record low C = -5.9 |Aug record low C = -3.1 |Sep record low C = -4.2 |Oct record low C = -0.4 |Nov record low C = -0.1 |Dec record low C = 3.4 |year record low C = -5.9 | Jan avg record high C = 32.4 | Feb avg record high C = 30.9 | Mar avg record high C = 28.3 | Apr avg record high C = 25.7 | May avg record high C = 22.3 | Jun avg record high C = 20.0 | Jul avg record high C = 18.5 | Aug avg record high C = 19.6 | Sep avg record high C = 21.7 | Oct avg record high C = 24.8 | Nov avg record high C = 27.6 | Dec avg record high C = 30.0 | year avg record high C = 32.9 |Jan high C = 25.0 |Feb high C = 24.4 |Mar high C = 23.0 |Apr high C = 20.5 |May high C = 18.1 |Jun high C = 15.7 |Jul high C = 14.8 |Aug high C = 15.4 |Sep high C = 17.3 |Oct high C = 19.2 |Nov high C = 21.1 |Dec high C = 23.5 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 19.5 |Feb mean C = 19.2 |Mar mean C = 17.9 |Apr mean C = 15.3 |May mean C = 12.9 |Jun mean C = 10.6 |Jul mean C = 9.9 |Aug mean C = 10.5 |Sep mean C = 12.2 |Oct mean C = 13.9 |Nov mean C = 15.9 |Dec mean C = 18.1 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 13.9 |Feb low C = 14.1 |Mar low C = 12.7 |Apr low C = 10.1 |May low C = 7.7 |Jun low C = 5.5 |Jul low C = 5.0 |Aug low C = 5.6 |Sep low C = 7.0 |Oct low C = 8.7 |Nov low C = 10.7 |Dec low C = 12.7 | year low C = | Jan avg record low C = 7.7 | Feb avg record low C = 8.1 | Mar avg record low C = 5.9 | Apr avg record low C = 3.2 | May avg record low C = 0.7 | Jun avg record low C = -1.0 | Jul avg record low C = -1.9 | Aug avg record low C = -0.6 | Sep avg record low C = 0.3 | Oct avg record low C = 2.8 | Nov avg record low C = 4.2 | Dec avg record low C = 6.3 | year avg record low C = -2.2 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 83.0 |Feb rain mm = 154.7 |Mar rain mm = 164.9 |Apr rain mm = 161.6 |May rain mm = 160.2 |Jun rain mm = 167.3 |Jul rain mm = 186.7 |Aug rain mm = 186.8 |Sep rain mm = 164.2 |Oct rain mm = 95.1 |Nov rain mm = 118.4 |Dec rain mm = 105.3 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA |url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz |title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Ruatoria 2 |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web |url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/ |title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number:2725) |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 9 May 2024}}

Industry

The principal industries in the district are related to agriculture and forestry. Attempts to sink oil wells in the area in the 1920s proved unprofitable.

History

The original shop, bunk house and cook house in the township of Tuparoa were destroyed by fire on two occasions between 1907 and 1913. Commerce was moved inland 5 miles to the area known as The Crossroads, northeast of the present town sitting on the area of the first river plain where it drops to the present river plain where the roads went north–south and to the east. (There was a race course on land alongside the Waiapu River below The Crossroads but that was abandoned by the end of the second world war). The Crossroads too was destroyed by fire during the first world war and in 1920 the first general store and accommodation was erected by William Hayes Owen Johnston (1890–1960) on what is now Tuparoa Road. (The shop has been dismantled after his death in 1960) He is buried with his third wife in the cemetery at Mahora on the Tuparoa road just before the junction with the side road to Reparoa. (His first and second wives were of the Gerrard family of Tuparoa and are buried in the cemetery at the top of the hill on the northern side of the creek which separated the old Tuparoa settlement).

From about 1925 onwards, Ruatoria began to replace Tuparoa as the main urban centre of the East Coast district of New Zealand. The transition to Ruatoria from Tuparoa was brought about by the increased reliability of State Highway 35, which at that time ran via the main street of Ruatoria. Tuparoa was disadvantaged by unreliable road access and a lack of all weather harbour.

The Rotokautuku Bridge, connecting Ruatoria to the northern side of Waiapu River, was built in 1964. This 1964 bridge replaced the old bridge which had been built in the 1930s. The old piles were used for the new bridge, although they had to be lowered by a metre to accommodate the new bridge.

In the 1980s, Ruatoria was briefly notorious for an outbreak of arson attacks in the town, during a period of severe economic downturn.

Significance to Māori

The Ngāti Porou proverb of identity relates to the area — Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Ngāti Porou te iwi (Hikurangi is the mountain, Waiapu is the river, Ngāti Porou is the tribe). Ruatoria is within the iwi's rohe, and Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou has offices located in the town.

The Waiapu River is of immense cultural, spiritual, economic, and traditional value to local Māori. According to traditional beliefs, a number of taniwha dwell in and protect the river, in turn protecting the valley and its hapū. Taniwha believed to be in Waiapu River include Kotuwainuku, Kotuwairangi, Ohinewaiapu, and Ngungurutehorowhatu.

According to an affidavit of Hapukuniha Te Huakore Karaka, two taniwha were placed in strategic locations in the river to protect the hapū from invading tribes — one near Paoaruku (a locality at ), and one at the Wairoa River (a small creek at ). Karaka said that a bridge was built from Tikitiki to Waiomatatini, to the protest of local Māori who were concerned that it would disturb the taniwha. The night before the bridge was completed, a storm came washing the bridge away — the weather till then had been calm. From then, one person would drown in the river nearly every year. If it did not happen one year, two would drown the next. A local tohunga, George Gage (Hori Te Kou-o-rehua Keeti) was approached to help the situation, and after that there were no similar drownings.

Marae

Ruatoria has several marae belonging to Ngāti Porou hapū:

In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade 29 Ngāti Porou marae, including Te Aowera Marae, Te Horo, Kariaka, Rauru, Umariki, Mangahanea, Mangarua, Reporua and Ruataupare Marae. It also committed $273,890 to upgrade Uepohatu Marae and $232,227 to upgrade Hiruharama Marae.

Education

Ngata Memorial College is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school with a roll of students as of The college opened in 1959.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu O Ngati Porou is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school with a roll of students as of

Notable residents

The area was home to politician Sir Āpirana Ngata, and Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu — the second of three Māori to receive a Victoria Cross.

References

References

  1. "BE45 – Waipiro Bay (Ruatoria)". [[Land Information New Zealand]].
  2. Soutar, Monty. (23 August 2011). "East Coast places – Waiapu River valley". [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  3. (19 April 2010). "Our District". [[Gisborne District Council]].
  4. (2002). "The Waiapu project: Maori community goals for enhancing ecosystem health". New Zealand Association of Resource Management.
  5. "The Rise and Rise of Umuariki". [[Gisborne Herald]].
  6. (7 September 2007). "Pukemaire and Reporua". [[Gisborne Herald]].
  7. "The Union". [[East Coast Rugby Football Union]].
  8. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
  9. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ.
  10. {{NZ census 2018. 7015472 and 7015474–7015476
  11. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  12. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  13. "Stuff".
  14. Robinson, Dave. (29 June 2013). "Continuity, communion and the dread: the Maori Rastafari of Ruatoria, Aotearoa-New Zealand".
  15. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service".
  16. {{NZ census 2018. Ruatoria-Raukumara (204900). ruatoria-raukumara. Ruatoria-Raukumara
  17. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  18. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer.
  19. "Ruatoria".
  20. "Statistics: Ruatoria, New Zealand". The Weather Network.
  21. (31 December 2010). "Climate Extremes". [[National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.
  22. (23 April 1964). "Rotokautuku Bridge Opened". Gisborne Photo News.
  23. "Detailed history of district since 1950". [[Gisborne Herald]] website.
  24. Steve Braunias. (23 February 2016). "'I had recurring nightmares in which I would fall victim to the anger of the Rastas'". [[The Spinoff]].
  25. Reedy, Tamati Muturangi. (4 March 2009). "Ngāti Porou – Tribal boundaries and resources". [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  26. "Whakapa Mai – Contact Details – Ngati Porou". Te Runanga O Ngati Porou.
  27. (22 December 2010). "Deed of Settlement Schedule: Documents". [[New Zealand Government]].
  28. Karaka, Hapukuniha Te Huakore. (28 July 2000). "Affidavit of Hapukuniha Te Huakore Karaka". Rainey Collins Wright & Co.
  29. "BE45 - Waipiro Bay (Paoaruku)". [[Land Information New Zealand]].
  30. "BE45 - Waipiro Bay (Wairoa River, Gisborne)". [[Land Information New Zealand]].
  31. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". [[Te Puni Kōkiri]].
  32. "Māori Maps". Te Potiki National Trust.
  33. (9 October 2020). "Marae Announcements". [[Provincial Growth Fund]].
  34. "Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
  35. "Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
  36. "History of the College". Ngata Memorial College.
  37. "Education Review Office Report". [[Education Review Office]].
  38. "Ministry of Education School Profile". [[Ministry of Education (New Zealand).
  39. (2007). "In the Face of the Enemy: The Complete History of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand". [[HarperCollins]].

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populated-places-in-the-gisborne-district