{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Kakatahi | image_skyline = | image_caption = | mapframe = y | mapframe-zoom = 8 | coordinates = {{coord|-39.653823|175.328622|region:NZ-MWT_type:city|display=it}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type2 = Region | subdivision_name2 = Manawatū-Whanganui | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = Whanganui District | subdivision_type4 = Community | subdivision_name4 = Whanganui Rural Community | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|Whanganui|Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)}} | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = Whanganui District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Horizons Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Whanganui | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Whanganui District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = Whanganui MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Whanganui MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Te Tai Hauāuru MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Hauāuru MP|y}} | population_as_of = 2023 Census | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_total = 228 | population_density_km2 = auto | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 541.09 | timezone = NZST | utc_offset = +12 | timezone_DST = NZDT | utc_offset_DST = +13 | area_code = 06 }} '''Kākātahi''' is a New Zealand town located {{convert|50|km|mi}} from Whanganui, on State Highway 4 to Raetihi.<ref>{{LINZ|28326|Kakatahi|2010-04-19}}</ref> The once bustling roadworkers' camp is now closed and the introduction of private contractors has seen the community dwindle, with local families contributing to a school roll of only about a dozen in 2007.

The local Ōtoko Pā is a meeting place for korowai o Te Awaiti.<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web |date=2015 |title=He Whiritaunoka: The Whanganui Land Report |url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_97551683/He%20Whiritaunoka%20Vol%201%20W.pdf |website=Waitangi Tribunal |series=Volume 1 (Wai: 903) |page=72 |format=PDF}}</ref> who is a group of hāpu known as: Ngāti Hine-o-te-rā, Ngāti Rūwai, and Ngāti Waikārapu<ref name="tkmentry" /> Sometimes just known as Te Awaiti or Te Awa Iti.

On the pā, there is a Wharenui called Tauakirā<ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref> and Kākātahi School

==Demographics== Kakatahi locality covers {{Convert|541.09|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=24 November 2025}}</ref> It is part of the larger Upper Whanganui statistical area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>

{{Historical populations|2013|246|2018|213|2023|228|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/>}} Kakatahi had a population of 228 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (7.0%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 18 people (−7.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 129 males and 99 females in 102 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7017652%2B7034128.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> There were 45 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 48 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 105 (46.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (13.2%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 82.9% European (Pākehā); 28.9% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 10.5%, Samoan by 1.3%, and other languages by 2.6%. No language could be spoken by 3.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 25.0% Christian, 5.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.5%, and 2.6% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 108 (59.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (24.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 12 people (6.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 111 (60.7%) full-time, 27 (14.8%) part-time, and 6 (3.3%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7017652%2B7034128.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7017652 and 7034128}}</ref>

==Education==

Kākātahi School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="moe">{{cite web |title=Kakatahi School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2375 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2375|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.<ref name="ero">{{cite web |title=Kakatahi School Education Review Office Report |url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/2375/kakatahi-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office }}</ref> It opened in 1934 but with predecessors from 1913. A new school was built in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kakatahi.school.nz/home/about-us/history|title=History|publisher=Kākātahi School|access-date=24 November 2025}}</ref>

Ngamatea School was a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students southeast of Kakatahi. It opened in 1915 as Te Pou School,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/education/watch-nzh-local-focus-ngamatea-school-closes-for-good/4FBTO3NJTTZ56R2JZLUJYR2PIU/|title=Watch NZH Local Focus: Ngamatea School closes for good|newspaper=New Zealand Herald|date=27 April 2017|first=Sieska|last=Verdonk}}</ref> and closed in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/whanganui-chronicle/news/final-farewell-to-ngamatea-school-after-roll-drops-to-zero/LJS4QIE5BTBZKKHZ4IHUD7DMXQ/|title=Final farewell to Ngamatea School after roll drops to zero|newspaper=Whanganui Chronicle|date=11 April 2017|first=Anne-Marie|last=McDonald}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Whanganui District}}

Category:Populated places in Manawatū-Whanganui Category:Whanganui District