Normanby, Taranaki

Normanby is a small village in South Taranaki, New Zealand. It is approximately 6 km inland from Hāwera along State Highway 3. Eltham is 13 km further north.^[6][7]

The village is also situated on the Marton–New Plymouth line railway, which has been freight-only through Normanby since the cessation of passenger railcar services between Wellington and New Plymouth on 30 July 1977.^[8]

The town was founded at the site of the Waihi redoubt, which was established as a field headquarters in September 1866 by colonial military forces fighting Hauhau Māori in the Second Taranaki War^[9][10]

Normanby is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area and covers 1.06 km² (0.41 sq mi).^[2] It had an estimated population of 1,080 as of June 2025,^[1] with a population density of 788 people per km².

Normanby had a population of 1,044 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (1.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (17.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 567 males and 477 females in 354 dwellings.^[13] 3.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 252 people (24.1%) aged under 15 years, 195 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 462 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 132 (12.6%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.0% European (Pākehā); 42.2% Māori; 5.7% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.4%, Māori by 12.1%, Samoan by 2.6%, and other languages by 2.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[11]

Religious affiliations were 27.0% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 1.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.5%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (5.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 453 (57.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 297 (37.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 51 people (6.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 420 (53.0%) full-time, 84 (10.6%) part-time, and 39 (4.9%) unemployed.^[11]

Tawhiti statistical area includes an area to the east and southeast of Normanby, extending to the coast. It covers 48.41 km² (18.69 sq mi)^[14] and had an estimated population of 800 as of June 2025,^[15] with a population density of 17 people per km².

Tawhiti had a population of 759 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (4.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 156 people (25.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 390 males and 369 females in 273 dwellings.^[18] 1.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 159 people (20.9%) aged under 15 years, 126 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 363 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.^[16]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.1% European (Pākehā); 19.8% Māori; 1.6% Pasifika; 2.0% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 0.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 6.7%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 3.6%. No language could be spoken by 0.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[16]

Religious affiliations were 34.4% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.8% Islam, 1.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.7%, and 6.7% of people did not answer the census question.^[16]

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (12.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 369 (61.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 159 (26.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $49,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 96 people (16.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 357 (59.5%) full-time, 78 (13.0%) part-time, and 12 (2.0%) unemployed.^[16]

Located near Normanby is Ketemarae Pa, a local historic centre for Maori settlement. It is an entry point for the Whakaahurangi track to Kairoa Pa, near Lepperton. This track linked northern and southern Taranaki before British settlement.^[19][20]

The site includes the meeting houses of Kumea Mai te Waka and Te Manawanui,^[21] and is a meeting place for the Ngāti Ruanui hapū of Araukūku.^[22]

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,479,479 from the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate Meremere Marae, Ketemarae Pā, Pariroa Marae and Taiporohēnui Marae, creating 35 jobs.^[23]

Normanby School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 136 students as of July 2025.^[24][25] The school was established in 1876.^[26]

• Statistics NZ: Normanby Community Profile