Poroporo, New Zealand
Poroporo | |
|---|---|
Rural community | |
| Coordinates: 37°58′41″S 176°57′36″E / 37.978°S 176.960°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
| Ward | Rangitāiki General Ward |
| Community | Rangitāiki Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Whakatāne District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whakatāne | Victor Luca[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 57.65 km2 (22.26 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 909 |
| • Density | 16/km2 (41/sq mi) |
Poroporo is a rural community in the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located south-west of Whakatāne, inland from the settlement.
According to Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, the Māori language is the "primary language of social engagement" in Poroporo.[6]
Poroporo has its own rugby and sports club,[7] which plays home games on a dedicated rugby field.[8][9]
History and culture
History
Ngāti Awa elder, soldier and community leader Peter Mason was born in the area in 1943. He was brought up in a simple, dirt-floor home on a small pā. His family worked for local farmers, grew their own crops and fished in the nearby river before it was dammed to irrigate new farms. Mason spoke Māori exclusively until beginning at the local Poroporo Native School.[10]
A man died in a house fire in Poroporo in September 2018.[11]
Marae
Poroporo is in the rohe (tribal area) of Ngāti Awa. It has several marae, which are meeting grounds of Ngāti Awa hapū:[12][13]
- Pūkeko Marae and Pūkeko meeting house is affiliated with Ngāti Pūkeko.
- Rangataua Marae and Rangataua meeting house is affiliated with Ngāti Rangataua.
- Rangimarie Marae and Rarawhati meeting house is affiliated with Te Whānau o Tariao Tapuke.
- Rewatu Marae and Ueimua meeting house is affiliated with Ngāi Tamapare.
In October 2020, the Government committed $4,871,246 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Pūkeko, Rangataua, Rewatu and 9 other Ngāti Awa marae, creating 23 jobs.[14]
Demographics
Poroporo covers 57.65 km2 (22.26 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Thornton-Awakeri statistical area.[15]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 783 | — |
| 2018 | 870 | +2.13% |
| 2023 | 909 | +0.88% |
| Source: [5] | ||
Poroporo had a population of 909 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (4.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 126 people (16.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 447 males, 453 females, and 3 people of other genders in 294 dwellings.[16] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 183 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 147 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 417 (45.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 150 (16.5%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 65.3% European (Pākehā), 53.1% Māori, 3.3% Pasifika, 1.7% Asian, and 1.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 17.5%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 3.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 26.4% Christian, 6.6% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.7%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 123 (16.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 420 (57.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 165 (22.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 66 people (9.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 348 (47.9%) full-time, 126 (17.4%) part-time, and 27 (3.7%) unemployed.[5]
References
- ^ "Victor Luca". Whakatāne District Council. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "East Coast - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015148, 7015149, 7015151, 7015155, 7015156 and 7015157. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Community backs live-in total-immersion Reo Māori strategy". scoop.co.nz. Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. 5 September 2019.
- ^ "Rugby Clubs". boprugby.co.nz. Bay of Plenty Rugby.
- ^ "Baywide Rugby: Premier 1 heats up as teams battle for home semifinals". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Rotorua Daily Post. 28 June 2019.
- ^ Liddle, Rosalie (24 March 2019). "2019 Bay of Plenty club rugby season kicks off". Sun Media. sunlive.co.nz.
- ^ Guildford, Jonathan (29 September 2018). "Life story: Peter Mason spent life preserving Māori traditions and helping guide children". Stuff. The Press.
- ^ "Man killed in Poroporo, Bay of Plenty, house fire". Stuff. 16 March 2016.
- ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
- ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
- ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
- ^ "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.