Waitōtara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waitōtara
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|---|---|
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki Region |
| Territorial authority | South Taranaki District |
| Ward |
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| Community | Pātea Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 0.25 km2 (0.10 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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|
| • Total | 70 |
| • Density | 280/km2 (730/sq mi) |
Waitōtara is a small town located in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) north-west of Waverley. The larger city of Whanganui is about 34 kilometers (21 miles) to the south-east.
State Highway 3, an important road, goes right through the town. The Waitōtara River flows along the east side of Waitōtara. In February 2004, over 30 homes had to be emptied because of flooding. A local meat processing plant, called a freezing works, is a big employer in the area.
People and History
Waitōtara is considered a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand. It covers a small area of 0.25 square kilometers (0.10 square miles).
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 66 | — |
| 2013 | 66 | +0.00% |
| 2018 | 72 | +1.76% |
In 2018, the town had 72 people living there. This was a small increase of 6 people since the 2013 and 2006 counts. There were 39 households in total. More males lived there (42) than females (30).
The average age of people in Waitōtara was 54.1 years. About 12 people (16.7%) were under 15 years old. Most people (70.8%) were of European/Pākehā background. About 33.3% identified as Māori.
Many people (58.3%) said they had no religion. About 29.2% were Christian. A small number (4.2%) followed Māori religious beliefs.
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Marae: Meeting Places
Waitōtara is home to several marae. These are special meeting places for the hapū (sub-tribes) of Ngā Rauru Kītahi.
- Te Ihupuku Marae, with its houses Te Kawerau and Karepoonia, belongs to Ngāti Hinewaiata.
- Kaipō or Wharetapapa Marae, with its Tokanuhea III meeting house, belongs to Ngāti Hou Tipua.
- Takirau Marae, with its Ko Te Marunga Nui o Pourua meeting house, belongs to Ngāti Pourua.
- Tauranga Ika Marae, with its Te Aputa ki Wairau meeting house, belongs to Ngāti Ruaiti.
- Waipapa Marae, with its Ngā Paiaka meeting house, belongs to Ngā Ariki.
In October 2020, the New Zealand Government gave money to upgrade Te Ihupuku Marae and Waipapa Marae. This project also helped create 92 jobs.
Education
Waitotara School is a school for students in years 1 to 8 (ages 5 to 13). It is a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school was first opened in 1874. As of November 2023, it had 35 students.
