Ātiamuri


Ātiamuri is a former hydro village in the central North Island of New Zealand. It lies alongside State [Highway 1 |State Highway 1] about 27 km south of Tokoroa and 38 km north of Taupō. It is bordered by the Waikato River and surrounded by pine plantations. Upper Ātiamuri, just north of the Waikato River, is a small community of lifestyle blocks, dairy farms and farm servicing businesses.
Pohaturoa Rock is a distinctive volcanic plug that dominates the landscape. It overlooks Lake Ātiamuri which was formed behind the hydroelectric Atiamuri Power Station. This very visible rocky outcrop is significant in both Arawa and Ngāti Raukawa history, having been a strategic observation post during intertribal conflicts.

Demographics

The area known as Ātiamuri is entirely within the Waikato Regional Council area but is in three district council areas: Rotorua Lakes, South Waikato and Taupo. Ātiamuri village is in the Taupō District.
Statistics New Zealand describes Ātiamuri village as a rural settlement, which covers. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. The village is part of the larger Ohakuri statistical area.
Ātiamuri village had a population of 72 in the 2023 [New Zealand census], unchanged since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people since the 2013 census. There were 39 males and 36 females in 24 dwellings. The median age was 41.0 years. There were 15 people aged under 15 years, 15 aged 15 to 29, 33 aged 30 to 64, and 12 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 54.2% European, 50.0% Māori, 8.3% Pasifika, and 4.2% Asian. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 16.7%, and other languages by 4.2%. No language could be spoken by 4.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 33.3% Christian, 16.7% Māori religious beliefs, and 4.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 41.7%, and 0.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 3 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 36 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 21 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 24 full-time and 6 part-time.

Atiamuri Power Station

Atiamuri Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River owned by Mercury Energy. It has a total capacity of 84 MW and was first commissioned in 1958.

Education

Upper Atiamuri School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of. The school was first mentioned in a newspaper in 1941.

In popular culture

Atiamuri was a filming location for the 1956 short film and the 2018 feature film. Pōhaturoa Rock is visible in several establishment scenes in the latter film.

Ōngāroto

The site of the former village of Ōngāroto is about west of Atiamuri, near Ōngāroto Marae on Ōngāroto Road. During the early twentieth century Ōngāroto had a sawmill, railway station, and school. The village was served by southern section of the TTT Railway which closed in 1944.

Climate