Rangataua
Rangataua is a small village in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of both the Tongariro National Park and Rangataua State Forest, adjacent to the southwestern slopes of the active volcano Mount Ruapehu. Part of the Manawatū-Whanganui region, the town is 5 kilometres east of Ohakune, 75 kilometres northeast of Whanganui, and 20 kilometres west of Waiouru.
The village's permanent population work in the nearby region with much of the seasonal population working at the Turoa Skifield. When the timber industry was at its peak, Rangataua had a population of 957 in 1914.
Rangataua contains many properties that are owned as holiday villas or baches usually used for skiing at the nearby Turoa Skifield.
Transportation
runs immediately adjacent to the village, as does the North Island Main Trunk railway. There is no station and all passenger rail traffic uses the railway station at Ohakune.History
The name Rangataua comes from two Māori words: Ranga - to parade in ranks; to fall in, and taua - war party. Rangataua was the site of a Māori village. In the mid seventeenth century this village was attacked and subsequently destroyed. The survivors of the attack established a pā on the site of present-day Ohakune.The town grew rapidly after the railway opened. A 1909 report said a billiard room, hair-dressing saloon, stationery shop and bakery were open, or being built. Marino and Piwari Streets were nearing completion and Miharo was expected to be a business street. A skating rink opened in 1911.
The Raetihi forest fire of March 18–20, 1918 almost destroyed Rangataua. Many houses and sawmills were burnt down. Fires had previously threatened the town in January 1914.
Demographics
Rangataua 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 Tangiwai statistical area, which covers.Rangataua had a population of 183 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 51 people since the 2013 census. There were 90 males and 90 females in 93 dwellings. 4.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.5 years. There were 33 people aged under 15 years, 24 aged 15 to 29, 102 aged 30 to 64, and 27 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.2% European, 21.3% Māori, 1.6% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 3.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 6.6%, and other languages by 11.5%. No language could be spoken by 3.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 18.0% Christian, 1.6% Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% Buddhist, 1.6% New Age, and 1.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.7%, and 14.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 93 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 27 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 66 full-time, 21 part-time, and 6 unemployed.