Poukawa


Poukawa is a rural community in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island.
It is located south of Hastings, off State Highway 2.

Demographics

Poukawa community covers. It is part of the larger Poukawa statistical area.
The community had a population of 897 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 132 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 207 people since the 2013 census. There were 453 males, 441 females, and 3 people of other genders in 294 dwellings. 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 180 people aged under 15 years, 150 aged 15 to 29, 423 aged 30 to 64, and 141 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.0% European ; 23.1% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori by 4.7%, Samoan by 1.0%, and other languages by 7.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.3%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 37.1% Christian, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 5.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 201 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 399 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 126 people exclusively held high school qualifications. 123 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 393 full-time, 129 part-time, and 18 unemployed.

Poukawa statistical area

Poukawa statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
The statistical area had a population of 1,569 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 204 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 297 people since the 2013 census. There were 804 males, 759 females, and 6 people of other genders in 540 dwellings. 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.2 years. There were 282 people aged under 15 years, 261 aged 15 to 29, 762 aged 30 to 64, and 264 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.4% European ; 25.0% Māori; 2.9% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 1.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 5.9%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.3%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 35.9% Christian, 0.2% Islam, 3.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 4.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 339 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 690 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 255 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 183 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 738 full-time, 201 part-time, and 30 unemployed.

Marae

The community has two Ngāti Kahungunu marae.
Te Whatuiāpiti Marae and meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāti Whatuiāpiti. In October 2020, the Government committed $887,291 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 4 others, creating 12 jobs.
Kahurānaki Marae and Kahurānaki meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāi Te Rangikoianake and Ngāti Whatuiāpiti. In October 2020, the Government committed $6,020,910 to upgrade Kahurānaki and 17 other marae, creating 39 jobs.

Education

Poukawa School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of The school was established in 1921.

Railway station

Poukawa had a flag station, opened on 16 February 1876, as part of the Paki Paki to Te Aute section of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line. By 1891 there were 3 trains a day in each direction, serving a shelter shed, platform, cart approach, loading bank and a short siding. In 1912 an automatic tablet exchanger was added. In 1929 a passing loop was added, which was moved north east, near to Te Mahanga Road, in 1958. In the 1931 earthquake the line near Te Mahanga Road was displaced by about. In 1967 Te Mahunga Road crossing gained flashing lights and bells, which were added the next year to Station Road crossing as well. The station lost its passenger service on 3 August 1959 and closed on 1 August 1971.

Te Hauke platform

After an 1884 petition for a platform at Te Hauke, south of Poukawa, described as a Native Settlement, a short platform was provided in 1886 and a shelter shed in 1906. Te Hauke closed to all traffic on 21 Nov 1958.