Mangaweka
History
The government constructed a road from Hunterville to Taihape and constructed shelters along the road. One on the site of what is now Mangaweka had the name 'Three Log Whare'. Mangaweka was surveyed out of the Awarua block to support the expansion of the North Island Main Trunk and roads in the area during the late 19th-century. By 1894 the settlement a post office, hall, and school. By the turn of the century the populated had reached close to 1,000.Attractions
State Highway 1 was re-located in the early 1980s, leaving the former main street as a historic precinct. As a result, the settlement has become a tourist attraction. The township is of interest not only for its historic main street, but also because of the growing artists' community.The Department of Conservation have several scenic reserve walks around Mangaweka including one that includes a section of the former North Island Main Trunk railway line and tunnels that was replaced by a deviation in 1981.
Other major features close to the town include some of the country's biggest railway viaducts on the Mangaweka deviation. Nearby, the Rangitikei River canyon provided the setting for one of the southern hemisphere's largest flying foxes, an 80m bungy jump, as well as a The Lord of the Rings film location.
DC3 aircraft
For over 30 years, a well-known landmark in Mangaweka was an elevated Douglas DC-3 aircraft installed in the middle of the town as a tearooms, adjacent to a service station on SH1. The aircraft was built for the US Airforce in 1945 but was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Airforce. It had 700 hours of service with the RNZAF 40 Squadron. In 1947 it was sold to the New Zealand National Airways Corporation registered as ZK-APK, and given the name Poaka. The aircraft was equipped with larger viewing windows in 1964, and became part of the airline's Skyliner fleet. It was in commercial passenger service from 1947 until 1969. It was then used for top-dressing operations until being withdrawn from service in 1981, having completed a total of 42,764 flying hours.The aircraft was installed as an attraction in Mangaweka in 1984 by the owners of the local service station, to help promote their river adventure company.
By 2018, the future of the aircraft was uncertain. In 2021 the plane was moved to Shannon for restoration and in 2023, the aircraft was put up for sale.
Demographics
Mangaweka is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the larger Mokai Patea statistical area.Mangaweka had a population of 114 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people since the 2013 census. There were 60 males and 51 females in 51 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.0 years. There were 18 people aged under 15 years, 12 aged 15 to 29, 63 aged 30 to 64, and 24 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 86.8% European, 26.3% Māori, and 5.3% Pasifika. English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 10.5%, and other languages by 5.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
The sole religious affiliation given was 26.3% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.9%, and 15.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 9 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 51 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 36 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,800, 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 42 full-time, 21 part-time, and 3 unemployed.
Mokai Patea statistical area
The Mokai Patea statistical area includes Pukeokahu, Moawhango, Mataroa, Papanui Junction, and Taoroa Junction, and surrounds but does not include Taihape. Mokai Patea covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.Mokai Patea had a population of 1,749 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 12 people since the 2013 census. There were 918 males, 825 females, and 3 people of other genders in 711 dwellings. 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.8 years. There were 351 people aged under 15 years, 291 aged 15 to 29, 813 aged 30 to 64, and 294 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.9% European, 27.6% Māori, 3.1% Pasifika, 0.7% Asian, and 4.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori by 6.5%, and other languages by 2.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.9%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 33.6% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 1.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 0.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.1%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 210 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 840 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 351 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 114 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 831 full-time, 246 part-time, and 18 unemployed.