Pohangina

Pohangina
Village
Pohangina Methodist Church, built c. 1907
Pohangina Methodist Church, built c. 1907
Map
Interactive map of Pohangina
Coordinates: 40°10′S 175°48′E / 40.167°S 175.800°E / -40.167; 175.800
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictManawatū District
Ward
  • Manawatū Rural General Ward
  • Ngā Tapuae o Matangi Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityManawatū District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Mayor of ManawatuMichael Ford[1]
 • Rangitīkei MPSuze Redmayne[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
5.81 km2 (2.24 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
230
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)

Pohangina is a small rural community in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand, just north of Ashhurst.

Pohangina is located along the foot of the Ruahine Range, and is primarily farming land. Farming varies from sheep and cattle to crops of maize and 'chow'. The farmland was originally ancient native forest.[6][7] Rimu and northern rātā grew above 1000 feet, with kāmahi, kaikawaka and pink pine growing at higher and steeper slopes, leatherwood scrub growing at higher altitudes, and wild tussocks growing at the summits of the range.[8]

The area still includes many conservation areas, including the Totara Reserve camping ground, the Pohangina River, Pohangina Wetlands reserve, and Pohangina Base, a former DOC field centre in the Ruahine Forest Park.[9][10][11]

Pohangina includes a village, with several historical buildings,[12] including a small chapel and at community hall built in 1933.[13] The area is a fishing spot for brown trout and rainbow trout.[14]

Pohangina translates as "ulcerated night", possibly suggesting the valley had been a place of bloodshed between the local Rangitāne Māori people and their enemies. However, the name is a corruption of the proper form, "Pou hangina",[15][16] so is likely to reference posts or supports, metaphoric or physical.

Demographics

Pohangina is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement. It covers 5.81 km2 (2.24 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 230 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 40 people per km2. It is part of the larger Pohangina-Apiti statistical area.[17]

Historical population for Pohangina
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006186—    
2013186+0.00%
2018210+2.46%
2023225+1.39%
Source: [18][19]
Pohangina Valley

Pohangina had a population of 225 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (7.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 39 people (21.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 108 males, 114 females, and 3 people of other genders in 87 dwellings.[20] 5.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 42 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 30 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 111 (49.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (18.7%) aged 65 or older.[18]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.7% European (Pākehā), 16.0% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 2.7% Asian, and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.3%, Māori by 2.7%, and other languages by 4.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[18]

Religious affiliations were 22.7% Christian, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, 1.3% Buddhist, and 2.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.0%, and 12.0% of people did not answer the census question.[18]

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (34.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 102 (55.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 18 (9.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 36 people (19.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 93 (50.8%) full-time, 30 (16.4%) part-time, and 3 (1.6%) unemployed.[18]

Pohangina-Apiti statistical area

Pohangina-Apiti statistical area, which also includes Āpiti, covers 681.60 km2 (263.17 sq mi)[21] and had an estimated population of 1,330 as of June 2025,[22] with a population density of 2.0 people per km2.

Historical population for Pohangina-Apiti
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,065—    
20131,095+0.40%
20181,227+2.30%
20231,290+1.01%
Source: [23][24]

Pohangina-Apiti had a population of 1,290 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 195 people (17.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 627 males, 654 females, and 9 people of other genders in 501 dwellings.[25] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 243 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 162 (12.6%) aged 15 to 29, 675 (52.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 207 (16.0%) aged 65 or older.[23]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.0% European (Pākehā); 11.6% Māori; 0.9% Pasifika; 0.7% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.6%, Māori by 3.3%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 4.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[23]

Religious affiliations were 24.4% Christian, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.0%, and 8.8% of people did not answer the census question.[23]

Of those at least 15 years old, 291 (27.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 582 (55.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 174 (16.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 144 people (13.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 576 (55.0%) full-time, 189 (18.1%) part-time, and 15 (1.4%) unemployed.[23]

Education

Awahou School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[26][27] with a roll of 41 as of October 2025.[28][29] It opened in 1894.[30]

References

  1. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Rangitīkei - Official Result". electionresults. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ^ Knight, Catherine (2014). Ravaged Beauty: An Environmental History of the Manawatu. Auckland: Dunmore Press. ISBN 978-1-927212-13-4.
  7. ^ Knight, Catherine. "Totara Reserve: A Window into Manawatu’s Environmental History", The Manawatu Journal of History, 4, 2008: 50–58.
  8. ^ "Pohangina". romst.co.nz. Rangitāne O Manawatū Settlement Trust.
  9. ^ "Totara Reserve Regional Park". Horizons Regional Council. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Totara Reserve". Central Economic Development Agency, Palmerston North City & Manawatu. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Pohangina Base, Pohangina Valley area and Ruahine Forest Park in the Manawatu/Whanganu". Department of Conservation (New Zealand). Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Pohangina Valley New Zealand". pohangina.org.
  13. ^ "Pohangina Hall". mdc.govt.nz. Manawatu District Council.
  14. ^ "Pohangina River". nzfishing.com. NZFishing.com.
  15. ^ Davis, Te Aue; O'Regan, Tipene; Wilson, John (1990). Ngā tohu pūmahara : ngā pou taunaha o Aotearoa = The survey pegs of the past : understanding Māori place names (PDF). [Auckland]: The Board. p. 12. ISBN 0-477-01462-3. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  16. ^ Fletcher, Henry James. "Index of Māori Names". The University of Waikato. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  18. ^ 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. Pohangina (1360). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7018059 and 7018060.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  22. ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  23. ^ 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. Pohangina-Apiti (227600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Pohangina-Apiti (227600). 2018 Census place summary: Pohangina-Apiti
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "Awahou School Official School Website". awahou.school.nz.
  27. ^ "Awahou School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  28. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Awahou School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  30. ^ Hall, Lois (1994). "Awahou School Cententary 1894-1994: A History of the Pohangina Valley". Awahou School.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awahou_School