{{more references|date=November 2020}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Māhoenui | map_caption = | mapsize = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | image_skyline = | image_caption = | imagesize = | pushpin_map = | motto = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of New Zealand|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Waikato region]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Waitomo District]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Ward (country subdivision)|Ward]] | subdivision_name3 = Rural | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = [[Waitomo District Council]] | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = [[Waikato Regional Council]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Waitomo]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waitomo District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Taranaki-King Country|Taranaki-King Country MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Taranaki-King Country MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}} | seat_type = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]] | seat = {{ubl|[[Taranaki-King Country]]|[[Te Tai Hauāuru]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}} | total_type = Territorial <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> | settlement_type = Village <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.--> | pushpin_map_caption = | utc_offset_DST = +13 | website = | area_code = | postal_code = | postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> | coordinates = {{coord|38|34|36|S|174|50|37|E|display=title}} | timezone_DST = NZDT | pushpin_label_position = bottom | utc_offset = +12 | timezone = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]] | population_total = 72 | population_as_of = 2023 census | elevation_m = | pushpin_mapsize = | official_name = }} '''Māhoenui''' is a small community in the western [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]], on the [[Awakino River (Waikato)|Awakino River]], near [[Piopio, New Zealand|Piopio]] and [[Te Kūiti]]. [[File:KingCountryFarmland31Jan06.jpg|right|300px|thumb|King Country farms from the air]]
The name refers to 'large [[māhoe]] trees' which used to grow in the area.<ref>{{LINZ|58489}}</ref> A macron was added to the name in 2022 as part of the Maniapoto Claims Settlement Act.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2022-ln5121|title=Notice of New and Altered Official Geographic Names and Discontinued Crown Protected Area Names for Maniapoto Claims Settlement Act 2022|publisher=New Zealand Government|date=28 November 2022}}</ref>
==History== The Croall family lived on the Awakino River in the 1920s and 1930s, eventually having to leave the land as uneconomic to survive by traditional farming methods. Charles Croall, sr., relocated to [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], setting up a construction business (Croall Construction) to build houses en-masse for the government. These subdivisions became known as '[[State housing in New Zealand|State house]] areas' and were typically inhabited by lower [[socio-economic]] communities. Large numbers of those houses have been sold to private buyers, both individually and in bulk.
Lewis Robert Ridling (commonly known as Bob) and his wife Margaret Marina Ridling née Jackson along with their 5 sons and 3 daughters cleared the land by hand of scrub and bush in this area. The Ridlings worked their Māhoenui farm from the 1920s onward after Bob Ridling won the land in a returned veterans ballot after returning wounded from Gallipoli, Turkey from World War I. Many ex servicemen simply walked off the land due to the difficulty of turning it into viable farm land. The Moss's were also well known in the area as Mr Moss was the local school teacher in the 1930s.
==Demographics== Māhoenui is in meshblocks 1016005, 1016101-2, and 1016203-4, which had a population of 72 people in the 2023 census.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock)|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
The community straddles [[Taharoa#Herangi statistical area|Herangi]] and [[Āria#Aria statistical area|Aria]] statistical areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=2023 Census electoral population at meshblock level (2025 Meshblock) and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>
==Education== Māhoenui primary school opened in 1898<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/mahoenui-war-memorial-hall|title=Mahoenui School Centennial, 1898-1998|year=1998|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> and closed in 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2006-go1853|title=Mahoenui School (2184) Closure Notice|publisher=New Zealand Government|first=Steve|last=Maharey|author-link=Steve Maharey|date=13 March 2006}}</ref> due to lack of students, with the property now privately owned.
==Geography== Māhoenui is located in the [[King Country]] approx {{convert|50|km}} inland from the west coast of the North Island, the topography is hilly to mountainous, with small alluvial areas near the streams and river.
==Economics== The primary activity is [[sheep farming]], with [[beef cattle|beef]] and [[dairy farming]] to a lesser degree.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.zoomin.co.nz/waitomo/mahoenui/ Map of Māhoenui area] *[http://www.moss.org.nz Croall and Moss Family memorial site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051226041130/http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=2184 Mahoenui School] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060220060727/http://www.map.net.nz/ Map and demographic data source for New Zealand]
{{Waitomo District}} [[Category:Populated places in Waikato]] [[Category:Waitomo District]]