Rongotea is a small rural village in the

Manawatū District Manawatū District is a territorial authority district in the Manawatū-Whanganui local government region in the North Island of New Zealand, administered by Manawatū District Council. It includes most of the area between the Manawatū River ...

of the

Manawatū-Whanganui Manawatū-Whanganui (; spelled Manawatu-Wanganui prior to 2019) is a region in the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand, whose main population centres are the cities of Palmerston North and Whanganui. It is administered by the Manawat ...

region. Located on the western Manawatū Plains, approximately northwest of the region's main city,

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; mi, Te Papa-i-Oea, known colloquially as Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatu Plains, the city is near the north bank of the ...

Features

Like most of the small settlements around the Manawatū, Rongotea is surrounded by dairy farms and the township serves as the service centre. Among the facilities are local businesses, retailers and a few eateries. , The township is served by Rongotea School which serves students years 1-8. Glen Oroua school, also years 1-8, is also nearby. There are no secondary schools in Rongotea, so secondary students travel to Palmerston North by bus to get to school. Unusual for a township of its size, Rongotea currently has four churches, and during the 1900s there were 7 churches present. Te Kawau Memorial Recreational Centre is here and is home to the Te Kawau Rugby Union Club.

History

In the late 1860s, the Government put the Carnarvon Block up for sale, along with the neighbouring Sandon Block. Two businessmen from Otago, the Hon Robert Campbell and John Douglas, bought the 21,400 acre "Oroua Downs Estate" in the Carnarvon Block. The land, having been declared a special settlement area was by contract compelled to settlement of at least 70 families. The result was Campbelltown, based on a central square (named Douglas). Later, due to many other settlements in New Zealand called Campbelltown, the township's name was changed to Rongotea. The Manawatū County Council chose this name as it meant "Peaceful place", although local tangata whenua Ngāti Rangitāne claim the name recalls a local respected chief. Rongotea was the centre of a religious revival in the late 1890s and many churches were built.

Demographics

Rongotea is defined 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 Awahuri statistical area. Rongotea had a population of 639 at the

2018 New Zealand census Eighteen or 18 may refer to: * 18 (number), the natural number following 17 and preceding 19 * one of the years 18 BC, AD 18, 1918, 2018 Film, television and entertainment * ''18'' (film), a 1993 Taiwanese experimental film based on the sho ...

, an increase of 12 people (1.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 21 people (3.4%) since the

2006 census 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...

. There were 246 households, comprising 336 males and 303 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.11 males per female, with 141 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 114 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 279 (43.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (17.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 92.0% European/

Pākehā Pākehā (or Pakeha; ; ) is a Māori term for New Zealanders primarily of European descent. Pākehā is not a legal concept and has no definition under New Zealand law. The term can apply to fair-skinned persons, or to any non-Māori New Ze ...

, 16.9%

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

, 1.9% Pacific peoples, 1.9%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.4% had no religion, 31.9% were

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

, 0.5% were

Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...

and 0.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (12.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 144 (28.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 45 people (9.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 252 (50.6%) people were employed full-time, 75 (15.1%) were part-time, and 21 (4.2%) were 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 2,046 at the

, an increase of 201 people (10.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 279 people (15.8%) since the

. There were 750 households, comprising 1,038 males and 1,011 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 423 people (20.7%) aged under 15 years, 339 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 963 (47.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 321 (15.7%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 91.9% European/

, 15.0%

, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.8%

, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.5% had no religion, 35.8% were

, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

, 0.3% were

and 1.6% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 264 (16.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 375 (23.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 276 people (17.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 906 (55.8%) people were employed full-time, 255 (15.7%) were part-time, and 48 (3.0%) were unemployed.

Entertainment

Every year Rongotea holds their own community Fireworks display. Over the years this show has become so popular people from Palmerston North and other townships close by come out to enjoy the show. Dates can vary but will happen no earlier than October but no later than December 25 The community also holds an annual Santa Parade every Christmas.

Education

Rongotea School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of . Kopane School, another co-educational state primary school, is located east of the main township. with a roll of .

References

{{Manawatu District Manawatū District Populated places in Manawatū-Whanganui