Rongotea

Rongotea is a small rural village in the Manawatū District of the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand on the western Manawatū Plains, approximately northwest of the region's main city, Palmerston North.

History

In the late 1860s, the Government put the Carnarvon Block up for sale, along with the neighbouring Sandon Block.

Demographics

Rongotea is described by Stats NZ 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 Awahuri statistical area.
Rongotea had a population of 690 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 63 people since the 2013 census. There were 360 males and 330 females in 264 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.7 years. There were 147 people aged under 15 years, 114 aged 15 to 29, 303 aged 30 to 64, and 126 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.0% European ; 18.7% Māori; 2.6% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 2.2%, Samoan by 0.9%, and other languages by 3.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.6%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.2% Christian, 0.4% Buddhist, 1.3% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.9%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 75 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 306 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 162 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 291 full-time, 78 part-time, and 9 unemployed.

Awahuri statistical area

Awahuri statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km².
Awahuri had a population of 2,115 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 147 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 351 people since the 2013 census. There were 1,074 males, 1,032 females, and 9 people of other genders in 783 dwellings. 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.9 years. There were 447 people aged under 15 years, 315 aged 15 to 29, 957 aged 30 to 64, and 396 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.3% European ; 16.9% Māori; 1.6% Pasifika; 2.6% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 3.3%, Samoan by 0.4%, and other languages by 4.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.0%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 29.9% Christian, 0.4% Hindu, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.3%, and 8.9% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 291 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 987 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 390 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 174 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 909 full-time, 270 part-time, and 27 unemployed.

Education

Rongotea School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of. It opened in 1881 as Campbelltown School.
Kopane School, another state primary school, is located east of the main township. with a roll of. It opened in 1925.
Both schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of