Tararua District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tararua District
Territorial authority district
Council Chambers and Town Hall, Dannevirke
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
Wards	North Tararua South Tararua
Formed	1989
Seat	Dannevirke
Area
• Total	4,364.65 km2 (1,685.20 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)
• Total	19,200
• Density	4.399/km2 (11.393/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)	Map of postcodes

The Tararua District is a special area in the south-east of New Zealand's North Island. It is managed by the Tararua District Council. About 19,200 people live here. The district covers 4,364.65 square kilometers. The Tararua District Council was formed in 1989. This happened when several smaller councils joined together. These included Dannevirke Borough and Pahiatua Borough.

The district's western edge follows the Ruahine Range mountains. Its eastern edge is the Pacific Ocean. The Manawatu River basin generally marks its northern and southern ends. Most of the district is in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region. However, some people feel they belong to Hawke's Bay or Wairarapa.

People and Population

The Tararua District is about 4,364.65 km² (1,685.20 sq mi) in size. As of June 2023, its estimated population is 19,200. This means there are about 4.4 people per square kilometer.

Population Changes Over Time

In the 2023 New Zealand census, 18,660 people lived in Tararua District. This was an increase of 717 people (4.0%) since the 2018 census. It was also an increase of 1,806 people (10.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 8,253 homes in the district.

The average age of people was 42.4 years. This is a bit older than the national average of 38.1 years.

• 3,735 people (20.0%) were under 15 years old.
• 2,952 people (15.8%) were aged 15 to 29.
• 8,148 people (43.7%) were aged 30 to 64.
• 3,822 people (20.5%) were 65 or older.

Different Ethnic Groups

People in Tararua District come from many backgrounds:

• 84.0% are European/Pākehā.
• 26.9% are Māori.
• 2.7% are Pasifika.
• 3.1% are Asian.
• 0.5% are Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African New Zealanders.
• 1.4% are from other groups.

Some people identify with more than one ethnic group.

Religious Beliefs

When asked about religion, many people chose not to answer. Of those who did:

• 49.6% said they had no religion.
• 36.7% were Christian.
• 3.2% had Māori religious beliefs.
• 0.3% were Hindu.
• 0.2% were Muslim.
• 0.3% were Buddhist.
• 1.4% followed other religions.

Education and Jobs

Of people aged 15 and older:

• 1,431 (10.2%) had a university degree or higher.
• 3,897 (27.7%) had no formal qualifications.

The average income was $26,300. This is less than the national average of $31,800.

• 1,374 people (9.8%) earned over $70,000. Nationally, 17.2% earned this much.

For jobs, among those 15 and older:

• 6,459 (45.9%) worked full-time.
• 2,298 (16.3%) worked part-time.
• 567 (4.0%) were unemployed.

District Wards

The Tararua District is divided into two main areas called wards.

The "Seventy Mile Bush"

When Europeans first settled here, the area was mostly covered in forest. They called it "Seventy Mile Bush". Hard work has turned much of it into a busy farming area. However, the coast near the Pacific Ocean is still not very populated. The old name lives on in the local rugby union team, Wairarapa-Bush.

Economy and Industries

Farming is the most important industry in the Tararua District. Other industries include making clothes (textiles) and processing food. Shops and stores are also important. In the coming years, growing trees for timber (commercial forestry) is expected to become a bigger part of the district's economy.

Schools in Tararua District

There are several schools in the Tararua District for different age groups.

Secondary Schools

These schools are for older students, usually from Year 9 to Year 15.

• Tararua College, Pahiatua
• Dannevirke High School, Dannevirke
• Totara College of Accelerated Learning Mangatera, Dannevirke
• Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tāmaki Nui A Rua, Dannevirke

Primary Schools

These schools are for younger students, usually from Year 1 to Year 8.

See also

In Spanish: Distrito de Tararua para niños