Taharoa

Taharoa is a small village on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, to the southwest of Kawhia Harbour and overlooking Lake Taharoa.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "long coast" for Tahāroa however traditional histories state that the extended name is “Te Tahaaroa a Ruaputahanga” or the “long calabash of Ruaputahanga”.

History and culture

It was at times the temporary home of the great Te Rauparaha used mainly as a battle ground on the vast expanses of sand dunes evident by the number of finds over the years, by 1822 they were being forced out of their land by stronger northern tribes. Te Rauparaha then began a fighting retreat or migration southwards, one which ended with them controlling a small part of the North Island and particularly Kapiti Island, which became the tribal stronghold.

Marae

Taharoa has two marae: Āruka Marae and Tahaaroa meeting house, and Te Kōraha Marae and Te Ōhākī meeting house. Both are affiliated with the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Mahuta ki te Hauāuru and Ngāti Rangitaka.

Iron sand mining

The main industrial activity is iron sand mining, run by New Zealand Steel, which began in 1972 was exporting about a year, mainly to Japan, with small quantities to South Korea and China. A 1993 study put reserves at 205 Mt of high concentrate and 360 Mt of lower grade sand. An $80m investment in 2014 boosted potential exports to 4 Mt a year.
In 2000 mining moved north, after the southern area was worked out. The roadway used for the move is now an airstrip. Sand from the lake is dug by a 250 tonne cutter suction dredge, a 450 tonne floating Trommel screen removes particles larger than, a 1,000 tonne floating concentrator removes lighter material and the denser sand is magnetically separated.
1,375 tonnes an hour of sand was piped to an offshore mono-buoy, which was extended a further 500m in 2012, replaced in 2017 and is wide and weighs 250 tons. The previous buoy was wide and weighed 185 tons. The three bulk carriers used to transport the sand, Taharoa Destiny, Taharoa Providence and Taharoa Eos, require a pilot to berth at the buoy and also a support boat to move ropes and pipes.
The mine employs about 150 workers, though only 108 were recorded as working in the whole Taharoa area in the 2013 census. To house its workers, NZ Steel built 65 houses, a hall, Kōhanga Reo, school, shop, and fire and ambulance facilities in the village.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Taharoa as a rural settlement, which covers. It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Herangi statistical area.
Taharoa had a population of 159 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 21 people since the 2013 census. There were 81 males and 78 females in 78 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 31.2 years. There were 42 people aged under 15 years, 36 aged 15 to 29, 78 aged 30 to 64, and 6 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 18.9% European ; 98.1% Māori; 5.7% Pasifika; and 1.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 34.0%, and other languages by 1.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.9%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 3.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 1.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 39.6% Christian, 7.5% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.9% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 45.3%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 78 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 24 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 72 full-time, 15 part-time, and 6 unemployed.

Herangi statistical area

Herangi statistical area, which also includes Te Anga, Mahoenui, Marokopa, Mokau and Awakino, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km².
Herangi had a population of 1,095 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 39 people since the 2013 census. There were 570 males and 525 females in 492 dwellings. 1.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.0 years. There were 210 people aged under 15 years, 144 aged 15 to 29, 528 aged 30 to 64, and 216 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 74.8% European ; 38.4% Māori; 1.1% Pasifika; 1.1% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders ; and 3.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 10.4%, and other languages by 3.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.2%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 33.7% Christian, 3.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, and 0.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.1%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 138 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 486 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 264 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 75 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 423 full-time, 132 part-time, and 27 unemployed.

Education

Kinohaku School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of It opened in 1907.
Te Kura o Tahaaroa is a co-educational state Māori immersion school, with a roll of. It opened as Taharoa Maori Native school in 1911 and was renamed Taharoa School in 1963. In 2000, it was renamed Te Kura o Tahaaroa in 2000.