Whangamōmona


Whangamōmona is a township in the Stratford District and Manawatū–Whanganui Region of New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the "Forgotten World Highway", north-east of Stratford and south-west of Ōhura. By rail it is from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.

Demographics

Whangamōmona statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Whangamōmona had a population of 159 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people since the 2013 census. There were 90 males and 69 females in 66 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.4 years. There were 33 people aged under 15 years, 18 aged 15 to 29, 75 aged 30 to 64, and 33 aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.5% European, 20.8% Māori, 5.7% Asian, and 5.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, and Māori by 3.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 26.4% Christian, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.4%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 75 had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 42 people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $22,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 60 full-time, 15 part-time, and 12 unemployed.

History

The first European settlers arrived in 1895, with the town proper established two years later. Growth of the town was seriously affected by the deaths of 51 men in the First World War and a major flood in 1924. The town recovered with arrival of the railway line in 1933 and electrification in 1959, but its population declined in subsequent decades. The school closed in 1979, followed nine years later by the post office.
In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Whangamōmona by the New Zealand Geographic Board.

Republic Day

In 1989, regional council boundaries were redrawn, with an emphasis on connected catchments. These revised maps made Whangamōmona part of the then-Manawatu-Wanganui Region since the Whangamōmona River is a tributary of the Whanganui River. Residents objected, as they wanted to continue being part of the Taranaki Region, and on 1 November 1989, they responded by declaring themselves the "Republic of Whangamomona" at the first Republic Day. Though the move began as a pointed protest, the town continued to hold a celebratory Republic Day once a year, during which a vote for president was held. The day has become a local festival day, and attracts visitors from throughout the North Island. In 2001, the celebration became biennial, held in January to take advantage of the summer weather.