Pongakawa

{{Short description|Rural community in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement   | name = Pongakawa | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | coordinates = {{coord|-37.836741|176.476480|region:NZ|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = New Zealand | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Bay of Plenty | subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority | subdivision_name2 = Western Bay of Plenty | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Maketu-Te Puke Ward | leader_title = Territorial authority | leader_name = Western Bay of Plenty District Council | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = Bay of Plenty Regional Council | leader_title2 = Mayor of Western Bay of Plenty | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = East Coast MP | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|East Coast MP|y}} | leader_title4 = Waiariki MP | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waiariki MP|y}} | seat_type = Electorates | seat = {{ubl|East Coast|Waiariki (Māori)}} | established_date = pre-European | established_title = | established_date1 = 19th Century | established_title1 = | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 52.20 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 27 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2023"/> | population_total = 459 | population_as_of = 2023 Census | population_density_km2 = auto  |timezone = NZST |utc_offset = +12 |timezone_DST = NZDT |utc_offset_DST = +13  |postal_code_type = Postcode |postal_code = 3189 |area_code = 07 |website = }}

'''Pongakawa''' is a rural community in the Bay of Plenty of New Zealand's North Island.<ref name=nztatel>[http://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/tel/faqs.html NZTA: Tauranga Eastern Link – Frequently Asked Questions]</ref> {{NZlSH|2}} runs through it.

The name of the settlement comes from Māori terms meaning "Bitter ferns".<ref>Reed, A.W. (1975). ''Place names of New Zealand''. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 333.</ref>

==Demographics== Pongakawa community covers {{Convert|52.20|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=2 June 2025}}</ref> It is part of the larger Pongakawa 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|438|2013|417|2018|432|2023|459|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Pongakawa community|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|7013817, 7013818 and 7013820}}</ref>}} The community had a population of 459 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (6.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 42 people (10.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 252 males and 210 females in 153 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%2Bdo1.7013817%2B7013818%2B7013820.2023&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> 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 105 people (22.9%) aged under 15 years, 78 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 219 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 57 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.5% European (Pākehā); 22.2% Māori; 0.7% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 3.3%, and other languages by 6.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 11.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 22.9% Christian, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 3.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.7%, and 9.2% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 210 (59.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 84 (23.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 48 people (13.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 210 (59.3%) full-time, 81 (22.9%) part-time, and 3 (0.8%) 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.7013817%2B7013818%2B7013820.2013%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=7013817, 7013818 and 7013820}}</ref>

===Pongakawa statistical area=== Pongakawa statistical area, which also includes Paengaroa and Otamarakau, covers {{Convert|389.03|km2||abbr=on}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Pongakawa|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Pongakawa|y}}|R}}/389.03|1}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|2,700|2013|2,673|2018|3,081|2023|3,261|percentages=pagr|align=left|title="Historical population for the statistical area|source=<ref name="Census 2023 P"/><ref name="Census 2018 P">{{NZ census 2018|Pongakawa (192500)|pongakawa|Pongakawa}}</ref>}} Pongakawa statistical area had a population of 3,261 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 180 people (5.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 588 people (22.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,725 males, 1,527 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,038 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_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.192500.2023&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> 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 759 people (23.3%) aged under 15 years, 564 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,500 (46.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 438 (13.4%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023 P"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.3% European (Pākehā); 26.5% Māori; 3.9% Pasifika; 4.1% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori by 6.4%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 7.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023 P"/>

Religious affiliations were 22.3% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 2.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.2%, and 9.8% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023 P"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 351 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,464 (58.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 681 (27.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 261 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,416 (56.6%) full-time, 402 (16.1%) part-time, and 36 (1.4%) unemployed.<ref name="Census 2023 P">{{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_008&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.192500.2013%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=Pongakawa (192500)}}</ref>

==Marae== The local Tokerau Marae and Pikiao meeting house are a traditional meeting ground of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe.<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref>

==Education== Pongakawa School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="moe1899">{{cite web |title=Pongakawa School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1899 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1899|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref name="ero1899">{{cite web |title=Pongakawa School Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/1899/pongakawa-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}</ref> It opened in 1892.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pongakawa.school.nz/history.html|title=History|publisher=Pongakawa School|access-date=2 June 2025}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Western Bay of Plenty District}} Category:Western Bay of Plenty District Category:Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region