Rongotea
Village
Former Bank of New Zealand building, now a community centre and library
Interactive map of Rongotea
Coordinates: 40°17′35″S 175°25′30″E / 40.293°S 175.425°E / -40.293; 175.425
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
District	Manawatū District
Ward	Manawatū Rural General Ward Ngā Tapuae o Matangi Māori Ward
Named after	"Peaceful place", or a local chief
Electorates	Rangitīkei Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Manawatū District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council
• Mayor of Manawatu	Michael Ford[1]
• Rangitīkei MP	Suze Redmayne[2]
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area [4]
• Total	0.58 km2 (0.22 sq mi)
Population  (June 2025)[5]
• Total	690
• Density	1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi)

Rongotea is a small rural village in the Manawatū District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand on the western Manawatū Plains, approximately 19 km (12 mi) northwest of the region's main city, Palmerston North.

In the late 1860s, the Government put the Carnarvon Block up for sale, along with the neighbouring Sandon Block.^[6]

Rongotea is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement. It covers 0.58 km² (0.22 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 690 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 1,190 people per km². It is part of the larger Awahuri statistical area.^[7]

Rongotea had a population of 690 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people (7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 63 people (10.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 360 males and 330 females in 264 dwellings.^[10] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 147 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 114 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 303 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 126 (18.3%) aged 65 or older.^[8]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.0% European (Pākehā); 18.7% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 2.2%, Samoan by 0.9%, and other languages by 3.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[8]

Religious affiliations were 25.2% Christian, 0.4% Buddhist, 1.3% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.9%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.^[8]

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (13.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 306 (56.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 162 (29.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (3.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 291 (53.6%) full-time, 78 (14.4%) part-time, and 9 (1.7%) unemployed.^[8]

Awahuri statistical area covers 124.44 km² (48.05 sq mi)^[11] and had an estimated population of 2,190 as of June 2025,^[12] with a population density of 18 people per km².

Awahuri had a population of 2,115 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 147 people (7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 351 people (19.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,074 males, 1,032 females, and 9 people of other genders in 783 dwellings.^[15] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 447 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 315 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 957 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 396 (18.7%) aged 65 or older.^[13]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.3% European (Pākehā); 16.9% Māori; 1.6% Pasifika; 2.6% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 3.3%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 4.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[13]

Religious affiliations were 29.9% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.3%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[13]

Of those at least 15 years old, 291 (17.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 987 (59.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 390 (23.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 174 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 909 (54.5%) full-time, 270 (16.2%) part-time, and 27 (1.6%) unemployed.^[13]

Rongotea School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[16] with a roll of 153.^[17] It opened in 1881 as Campbelltown School.^[18]

Kopane School, another state primary school,^[19] is located east of the main township.^[20] with a roll of 47.^[21] It opened in 1925.^[22]

Both schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.^[23]

• "Kopane School 90th Jubilee 2015". Kopane School. Retrieved 11 December 2025.