Manakau

For the suburb of Auckland, see Manukau. For other uses, see Manakau (disambiguation).

Manakau
Map
Interactive map of Manakau
Coordinates: 40°42′50″S 175°12′58″E / 40.714°S 175.216°E / -40.714; 175.216
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
Territorial authorityHorowhenua
Ward
  • Waiopehu General Ward
  • Horowhenua Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityHorowhenua District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Horowhenua MayorBernie Wanden[1]
 • Ōtaki MPTim Costley[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
5.66 km2 (2.19 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
490
 • Density87/km2 (220/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Area code04

Manakau is a settlement situated in the Horowhenua District, located at the boundary of the Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington regions of New Zealand's North Island. It lies 8 km north of Ōtaki and 12 km south of Levin, and is connected to both via State Highway 1, which skirts Manakau's western edge. The township is situated 5 km inland from the coast of the Tasman Sea.[6]

In 1886, Manakau became the first place to have a railway station on the newly completed Wellington-Manawatu railway line.[7] Although the line is now part of the North Island Main Trunk line, but the station itself has long been closed. Industries in the area include horticulture,[7] and there are several plant nurseries in or close to the township.

The name Manakau comes from the Māori words mana (prestige, authority) and kau (alone, sole). The name refers to an invasion of the district by notable tribal leader Te Rauparaha, who subdued the area on the strength of his prestige alone, with the local residents putting up no resistance.[8] The streets are named after Māori members of Parliament.[7]

Marae

Manakau has two marae, affiliated with local hapū from the Ngāti Raukawa iwi. Tūkorehe Marae and its meeting house of the same name are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Tūkorehe; Wehi Wehi Marae and its meeting house of the same name are affiliated with the hapū of Ngāti Wehi Wehi.[9][10]

In October 2020, the Government committed $482,108 from the Provincial Growth Fund to Ngāti Tūkorehe to upgrade its Tūkorehe Marae, creating 17.5 positions.[11]

Demographics

Manakau is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, and covers 5.66 km2 (2.19 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 490 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 87 people per km2. It is part of the larger Ōhau-Manakau statistical area.[12]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006342—    
2013333−0.38%
2018420+4.75%
2023480+2.71%
Source: [13][14]
House of Te Ua Whaka, at Manakau, 1880s

Manakau had a population of 480 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (14.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 147 people (44.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 234 males and 246 females in 192 dwellings.[15] 3.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 75 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 51 (10.6%) aged 15 to 29, 225 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 135 (28.1%) aged 65 or older.[13]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.2% European (Pākehā); 20.0% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 3.1% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 5.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 99.4%, Māori by 5.0%, and other languages by 7.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[13]

Religious affiliations were 31.2% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, and 2.5% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.2%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.[13]

Of those at least 15 years old, 81 (20.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 225 (55.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 102 (25.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 42 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 195 (48.1%) full-time, 75 (18.5%) part-time, and 6 (1.5%) unemployed.[13]

Education

Manakau School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[16][17] with a roll of 102 as of October 2025.[18] The school was founded in 1888.[19]

References

  1. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Ōtaki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ^ Dowling, P. (ed.) (2004). ’’Reed New Zealand atlas’’. Auckland: Reed Publishing. Map 48. ISBN 0 7900 0952 8
  7. ^ a b c McKinnon, M. "Horowhenua," Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 21 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  8. ^ Reed, A.W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 243
  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. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Manakau (1385). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7018993, 7018995 and 7018998.
  15. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Official School Website". manakau.school.nz.
  17. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  18. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  19. ^ Manakau School Centenary 1888–1988 (PDF). Manakau School. 1988.
  • Media related to Manakau at Wikimedia Commons
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manakau_School