Piriaka

Piriaka is a small rural settlement beside the Whanganui River, about southeast of Taumarunui on State Highway 4, in New Zealand's King Country. Its name is Māori, from piri and aka.
The Piriaka Power Station is about north of the settlement.
The Piriaka springs can be found just to the south of Piriaka at. These springs are well known in the local area, and also provide the main water supply for the settlement.
About further south along SH4, at, there is a lookout providing an excellent view of the Whanganui River. This spot is known as the Piriaka lookout.

Demographics

Piriaka covers. It is part of the larger Ngapuke statistical area.
Piriaka had a population of 138 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 30 people since the 2013 census. There were 66 males, 69 females, and 3 people of other genders in 51 dwellings. 4.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.5 years. There were 33 people aged under 15 years, 24 aged 15 to 29, 54 aged 30 to 64, and 27 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 60.9% European, 58.7% Māori, 8.7% Pasifika, and 4.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.5%, and Māori by 10.9%. No language could be spoken by 6.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 4.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 21.7% Christian, and 2.2% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.7%, and 15.2% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 9 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 54 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 42 full-time, 15 part-time, and 3 unemployed.