Takapūwāhia

Takapūwāhia, also known as Porirua Pā, was originally built on one of the oldest settlements in the Porirua basin — Te Urukahika, a small hamlet located on the western shore of Porirua harbour in the lower North Island of New Zealand.

In the 1850s, Takapūwāhia had a population of over 250 Māori. As the crown acquired more iwi land for Pākehā settlement, the wider iwi was invited to settle in Porirua by Ngāti Maunu, the senior hapū of Ngāti Toa. Families came from Pukerua Bay and Taupo Pā, now known as Plimmerton.

In 1889, the settlement moved from Te Urukahika (now called Elsdon, named after ethnologist Eldon Best) to its current location on the southern shores of the Onepoto Arm, and became the primary home to Ngāti Toa Rangatira. In 1910, a school was built next to the wharenui (meeting house).^[1]

At an unknown date sometime within the late 1800s, Ngāti Toa Rangatira Hoani Te Okoro was given land by his tribe at Takapūwāhia, where he then later became Episcopalian minister.^[2]

The settlement includes Takapūwāhia Marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāti Toa Rangatira. The marae includes a wharenui, known as Toa Rangātira, also known as Parehounuku. It was opened in 1982, replacing the prior wharenui that had stood since 1901.^[3][4]

On the 10th of October, Dame Whina Cooper and her large group of protestors were hosted at the marae by Ngāti Toa during the 1975 Māori Land March.^[5]

Takapūwāhia is named for a place of the same name in Kāwhia, the former home of Ngāti Toa.^[6]

Takapūwāhia is combined with the neighbouring suburb of Elsdon for statistical purposes. The Elsdon-Takapuwahia statistical area covers 10.29 km² (3.97 sq mi) and also includes the large rural area of Rangituhi / Colonial Knob to the west.^[7] It had an estimated population of 2,430 as of June 2025, with a population density of 236.15 people per km².

Elsdon-Takapuwahia had a population of 2,418 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 261 people (12.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 201 people (9.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 696 households, comprising 1,194 males and 1,224 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female. The median age was 31.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 603 people (24.9%) aged under 15 years, 582 (24.1%) aged 15 to 29, 996 (41.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 240 (9.9%) aged 65 or older.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 41.7% had no religion, 44.3% were Christian, 2.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.9% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 267 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 399 (22.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 153 people (8.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 849 (46.8%) people were employed full-time, 243 (13.4%) were part-time, and 135 (7.4%) were unemployed.^[8]

The census revealed numerous trends in the area that differ from New Zealand as a whole. Ethnically, the statistical area was 52.9% Māori, 47.8% European/Pākehā, 28.7% Pasifika, 10% Asian, 0.7% MELAA, and 0.6% other. Meanwhile, New Zealand in its entirety is 70.2% European and only 16.5% Māori. Other differences include a larger Christian population (44.3% in the area compared to 36.5% nationally) and lower median income ($25,700 in the area compared to $31,800 nationally).^[8]

Mana College is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,^[9] with a roll of 496 as of July 2025.^[10] The school was founded in 1957.^[11]

Mahinawa Specialist School is a co-educational specialist school,^[12] with a roll of 137.^[13]

41°08′S 174°50′E / 41.133°S 174.833°E / -41.133; 174.833