{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Pūponga | settlement_type = | image_skyline = Port Puponga.jpg | imagesize = | image_alt = | image_caption = [[Port Pūponga]] seen from Pūponga | coordinates = {{coord|-40.521|172.719|type:city_region:NZ|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 7 | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = [[Territorial authorities of New Zealand|Territorial authority]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Tasman District|Tasman]] | subdivision_type2 = Ward | subdivision_name2 = Golden Bay | seat_type = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]] | seat = {{ubl|[[West Coast-Tasman]]|{{nowrap|[[Te Tai Tonga]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}}}} | government_footnotes = | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = [[Tasman District Council]] | leader_title1 = [[Mayor of Tasman]] | leader_name1 = {{NZ officeholder data|Tasman District Mayor|y}} | leader_title2 = {{nowrap|[[West Coast-Tasman|West Coast-Tasman MP]]}} | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|West Coast-Tasman MP|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}} | total_type = | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_total = 198 | population_as_of = 2023 census | population_density_km2 = auto | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 31.71 | timezone1 = NZST | utc_offset1 = +12 | timezone1_DST = NZDT | utc_offset1_DST = +13 | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = Area code | area_code = 03 | website = | footnotes = }} '''Pūponga''' is a tiny settlement in New Zealand and is the northernmost settlement in the [[South Island]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Puponga, Tasman – NZ Topo Map|url= http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz44621/Puponga/Tasman |website=NZ Topo Map|publisher=[[Land Information New Zealand]]|accessdate=2017-10-12}}</ref> It is in the [[Tasman District]], {{convert|18|km|mi}} north of [[Collingwood, New Zealand|Collingwood]], at the foot of [[Farewell Spit]]. The spit's airstrip, [[Triangle Flat Airstrip]] is just northeast of Pūponga. The settlement of Pūponga is inland; the settlement located on the coast is called [[Port Pūponga]].<!-- Q25661954 --><ref>{{LINZ|id=36591|name=Port Pūponga|access-date=10 May 2021}}</ref>
Just to the northeast of the village, a car park at a cafe was the starting point for tours of Farewell Spit. However, the cafe burned down on 30 November 2019 and has been closed since.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sivignon |first1=Cherie |last2=Williams |first2=Caroline |title=Popular tourist cafe at top of South Island 'totalled' by fire |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/117839083/firefighters-scramble-to-remote-cafe-fire-near-golden-bay |access-date=27 May 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref> Popular walks in the area include short walks to [[Cape Farewell, New Zealand|Cape Farewell]], the northernmost point of the South Island, and to [[Wharariki Beach]].<ref name="DOC">{{cite web|url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/farewell-spit-and-puponga-farm-park/things-to-do/tracks/farewell-spit-and-puponga-farm-park-tracks/|title=Farewell Spit and Puponga Farm Park tracks|publisher=[[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation NZ]]|accessdate=2017-10-12}}</ref>
==Demographics== Pūponga locality covers {{Convert|31.71|km2||abbr=on}} and includes [[Farewell Spit]].<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=18 April 2026}}</ref> It is part of the larger [[Golden Bay / Mohua#Demographics|Golden Bay / Mohua 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|2006|147|2013|186|2018|192|2023|198|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7022537}}</ref>}} Pūponga had a population of 198 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 6 people (3.1%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 12 people (6.5%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 93 males, 99 females, and 3 people of [[non-binary gender|other genders]] in 72 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%2Bdo1.7022537.2023&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> 3.0% of people identified as [[LGBTQ|LGBTIQ+]]. The median age was 48.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 33 people (16.7%) aged under 15 years, 21 (10.6%) aged 15 to 29, 99 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (21.2%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.9% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]), 7.6% [[Māori people|Māori]], and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori by 3.0%, and other languages by 10.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 27.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Religious affiliations were 19.7% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 3.0% [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 3.0% [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]], 3.0% [[New Age]], and 3.0% other religions. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 63.6%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 51 (30.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 87 (52.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 21 (12.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (5.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 54 (32.7%) full-time and 45 (27.3%) part-time.<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.7022537.2013%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=7022537}}</ref>
==Education== Puponga School opened in 1905 and closed in 1941, merging to [[Pākawau]] School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21461038|title=Pakawau School centenary|year=1973|first=Enid|last=Scrimgeour|publisher=Pakawau School Centennial Committee|via=[[National Library of New Zealand]]}}</ref> Pākawau School, which opened in 1873, closed in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topsouthnow.co.nz/news/69812f062b7137038bf8889a|title=Pākawau school’s long history revealed|publisher=Top South Now|first=Robyn|last=Parkes|date=8 February 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Kahurangi National Park}} {{Tasman District}}
[[Category:Populated places in the Tasman District]] [[Category:Populated places around Golden Bay / Mohua]] [[Category:Kahurangi National Park]]