Warea, New Zealand

Warea
Interactive map of Warea
Coordinates: 39°13′41″S 173°48′58″E / 39.22806°S 173.81611°E / -39.22806; 173.81611
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
DistrictSouth Taranaki District
Wards
  • Taranaki Coastal General Ward
  • Te Kūrae Māori Ward
CommunityTaranaki Coastal Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Taranaki District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of South TaranakiPhil Nixon[1]
 • New Plymouth MPDavid MacLeod[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
 • Total
42.15 km2 (16.27 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
390
 • Density9.3/km2 (24/sq mi)

Warea is a community in the west of Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 45, 26 kilometres north of Ōpunake. The local Pūniho Marae, also known as Tarawainuku Marae, is a traditional meeting ground of the Taranaki Iwi hapū of Ngā Māhanga.[6] It includes the Kaimirumiru and Ko Pauna te Tipuna meeting houses.[7]

During the First Taranaki War in April 1860, government troops crossed the Hangatahua River and attacked Māori settlements and a mill around Warea.[8] On 28 April 1865 during Second Taranaki War, Warea was the location of a government fortification, Warea Redoubt.[9] The redoubt was abandoned in early 1868.[9]

Demographics

Warea locality covers 42.15 km2 (16.27 sq mi).[4] The locality is part of the larger Parihaka statistical area.[10]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006288—    
2013342+2.49%
2018351+0.52%
2023390+2.13%
Source: [5][11]

Warea had a population of 390 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (11.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 48 people (14.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 210 males and 177 females in 147 dwellings.[12] 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 102 people (26.2%) aged under 15 years, 51 (13.1%) aged 15 to 29, 204 (52.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (6.9%) aged 65 or older.[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.7% European (Pākehā); 23.1% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 0.8% Asian; and 1.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 6.9%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 4.6%. No language could be spoken by 3.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]

Religious affiliations were 30.0% Christian, 1.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 1.5% New Age, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.3%, and 5.4% of people did not answer the census question.[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (21.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 162 (56.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 69 (24.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 45 people (15.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 177 (61.5%) full-time, 39 (13.5%) part-time, and 6 (2.1%) unemployed.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Declaration of Results of Election and Poll" (PDF). South Taranaki District Council. 17 October 2025.
  2. ^ "New Plymouth - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  5. ^ 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. 7017368 and 7017369. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  7. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  8. ^ Prickett, Nigel (1994). "Pakeha and Maori Fortifications of the First Taranaki War, 1860–61". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 31: 1–87. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906439. Wikidata Q58677455.
  9. ^ a b Prickett, Nigel (1996). "British Army and Colonial Fortifications in North Taranaki, 1863–64". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 33: 1–51. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906458. Wikidata Q58677495.
  10. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  11. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017368 and 7017369.
  12. ^ "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.