Pukehina

{{Short description|Town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Pukehina | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = | image_skyline = Pukehina Beach, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.jpg | image_alt = Photograph of Pukehina Beach | image_caption = Pukehina Beach | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | etymology = | nickname = | motto = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|37|48|S|176|31|E|region:NZ_type:city|display=it}} | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | 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 | subdivision_type4 = Community | subdivision_name4 = Maketu Community | 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_title = | established_date = | founder = | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 1.57 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} | population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Pukehina Beach|y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = Postcode(s) | postal_code = 3189<ref name="Postcode">{{cite web|url=https://www.worldpostalcodes.org/l1/en/nz/new-zealand/profile/postcode/3189|access-date=2020-04-28|title=worldpostalcodes}}</ref> | area_code_type = | area_code = | iso_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Pukehina''' is a beach and township located in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island. It consists of a white sandy beach, an estuary, farms and several homes. The area is popular with surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing. There is a campground located at the south-eastern end of the beach, and a boat ramp at the estuary.<ref name="council">{{cite web |title=Pukekina |url=https://www.westernbay.govt.nz/community/about-the-western-bay/our-places/pukehina |website=westernbay.govt.nz |publisher=Western Bay of Plenty District Council}}</ref><ref name="residents">{{cite web |title=Pukekina Beach |url=https://pukehinabeach.co.nz/ |website=pukehinabeach.co.nz |publisher=Pukehina Beach Ratepayers & Residents Association}}</ref>

The beach is dangerous for inexperienced surfers and swimmers due to the strong currents that are often present and steep banks at many places along the six kilometre beach. Offshore winds blow from the south-west, which are quite common since the prevailing wind in New Zealand is westerly. The area also enjoys more sunshine hours than other places in the country.<ref name="residents" /><ref name="council" />

Both sharks and seals have been sighted at the beach.<ref name="zhunter">{{cite news |last1=Hunter |first1=Zoe |title=Shark sighting at Pukehina Beach scares family out of the water |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11965543 |agency=Rotorua Daily Post |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=24 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="aevans">{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Aisha |title=Seal enjoys lazy afternoon nap |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/220696-seal-enjoys-lazy-afternoon-nap.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=13 September 2019}}</ref> Several dead seals washed up on the beach in August 2019.<ref name="deadseals">{{cite news |last1=Staff reporter |title=Graphic: Dead seals on Pukehina Beach |url=https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/219148-graphic-dead-seals-on-pukehina-beach.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=28 August 2019}}</ref>

==Demographics== Pukehina Beach statistical area, which corresponds to Pukehina, covers {{Convert|1.57|km2||abbr=on}}<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Pukehina Beach|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Pukehina Beach|y}}|R}}/1.57|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>.

{{Historical populations|2006|960|2013|615|2018|804|2023|885|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/><ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Pukehina Beach (192400)|pukehina-beach|Pukehina Beach}}</ref>}} Pukehina Beach had a population of 885 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (10.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 270 people (43.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 471 males, 414 females, and 3 people of other genders in 339 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%2Bdo1.1237.2023&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> 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 144 people (16.3%) aged under 15 years, 90 (10.2%) aged 15 to 29, 459 (51.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 195 (22.0%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.1% European (Pākehā); 23.1% Māori; 2.0% Pasifika; 3.7% Asian; 1.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 5.4%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 7.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 16.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Religious affiliations were 27.8% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 1.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 1.7% New Age, 0.3% Jewish, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 59.7%, and 7.8% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>

Of those at least 15 years old, 150 (20.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 414 (55.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 177 (23.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 93 people (12.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 378 (51.0%) full-time, 117 (15.8%) part-time, and 15 (2.0%) 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_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.1237.2013%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=Pukehina Beach (1237)}}</ref>

==Geography==

Pukehina Beach is located twenty minutes drive away from Te Puke, the Kiwifruit capital of New Zealand. On the other side of the estuary is Little Waihi and it is a short drive from there to Maketu.<ref name="residents" />

To the north-west, across the estuary entrance and around the point is Newdicks Beach. To the east-north-east, out to sea, lies Whakaari / White Island, an active volcano and peak of a 1,600m submarine mountain, which is visible during fine weather.<ref name="residents" />

To the south-east there is an extensive area of Māori land anchored by the Otamarakau marae.<ref name="landcare">{{cite web |title=Visualizing Māori Land - Pukehina |url=https://whenuaviz.landcareresearch.co.nz/place/117983 |website=landcare.co.nz |publisher=Landcare}}</ref>

==History==

In 2017, Pukekina experienced exponential house price growth, due to demand for holiday homes from New Zealand, Australia, China and the United States.<ref name="bateson">{{cite news |last1=Bateson |first1=Sonia |title=Bay's 'hidden paradise' of Pukehina sees exponential growth |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11791735 |agency=Bay of Plenty Times |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=1 February 2017}}</ref>

A suspected drink driver crashed into a beachside home in Pukekina in November 2018, but no one was killed or injured in the crash.<ref name="yalden">{{cite news |last1=Yalden |first1=Phillipa |title=Suspected drink-driver crashes into couple's home in Pukehina |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/108504949/suspected-drink-driver-crashes-into-couples-home-in-pukehina |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=stuff.co.nz |date=10 November 2018}}</ref>

The Pukehina Volunteer Fire Brigade was sued in early 2018 by a former volunteer fireman who claimed the brigade had a culture of bullying.<ref name="acampbell">{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Andrew |title=Pukehina fire brigade sued for $350,000 |url=https://sunlive.co.nz/news/172359-pukehina-fire-brigade-sued-350000.html |agency=Sun Live |publisher=Sun Media |date=2 February 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, developers applied for planning approval to convert a 165-hectare dairy farm into a sustainable eco-friendly lifestyle village, and a restored wetland for birds like the critically endangered Matuku.<ref name="lnicholas">{{cite news |last1=Nicholas |first1=Leigh |title=Pukehina: From farmland to Eco Village |url=https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/pukehina-from-farmland-to-eco-village/ |agency=Architecture Now |publisher=BCI New Zealand |date=17 August 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, State Highway 2 was blocked at Pukehina by a roaming herd of up to 80 cows.<ref name="cows">{{cite news |last1=Staff writer |title=Moo-ve over! Up to 80 cows on SH2 in Pukehina last night |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12262192 |agency=New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=27 August 2019}}</ref>

Pukehina Surf Club received planning approval in late 2018 to replace its ageing club house and shipping container with a new $2.4 million purpose-built building.<ref name="surfclub">{{cite news |last1=Staff reporter |title=Pukehina Surf Club to get new clubhouse |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=12153203 |agency=Bay of Plenty Times |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=2 November 2018}}</ref>

==Education==

Pukehina School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="moe1904">{{cite web |title=Pukehina School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=1904 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1904|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}<ref name="ero">{{cite web |title=Pukehina School Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/1904/pukehina-school |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}}</ref> The school opened in 1914.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pukehina.school.nz/index.php/our-history-matters/|title=Our History Matters|publisher=Pukehina School|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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