# Pukehou

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**Pukehou** is a farming locality in southern [Hawke's Bay](/source/Hawke's_Bay_region), in the eastern [North Island](/source/North_Island) of New Zealand.

Pukehou is located on [State Highway 2](/source/New_Zealand_State_Highway_2), about halfway between [Hastings](/source/Hastings,_New_Zealand) and [Waipukurau](/source/Waipukurau). The locality's name (originally *Pukehouhou*) is [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_language), and means "Hill of houhou", the 'houhou' or 'Puahou' being a small native flowering tree, *[Pseudopanax arboreus](/source/Pseudopanax_arboreus)* or *Five Finger* ([Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_language): 'Puahou' or 'Whauwhaupaku').

Christ Church, the oldest church in Hawke's Bay and the [Waiapu Diocese](/source/Diocese_of_Waiapu), was built by [Samuel Williams](/source/Samuel_Williams_(missionary)) in 1859. It was constructed of local timber with roofing of hand split [totara](/source/Podocarpus_totara) shingles and measured 40 feet by 20 feet. It was extended in both 1881 and 1893, work in the latter date including the north and south transept and chancel. It church was repaired in 1959 with the roof being repiled, repainted and reshingled, and was repainted in 1993.[1]

The church has two significant stained glass windows. The east window was designed by John Bonnor while [Karl Parsons](/source/Karl_Parsons) designed the north one. The church is registered as a Category I heritage building by [Heritage New Zealand](/source/Heritage_New_Zealand).[1]

## Demographics

Pukehou locality covers 126.74 km2 (48.93 sq mi).[2] The locality is split between the [Mangaonuku](/source/Tikokino#Mangaonuku_statistical_area) and the [Mangarara](/source/Omakere#Mangarara_statistical_area) statistical areas.[3]

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 2013 357 — 2018 375 +5.0% 2023 351 −6.4%

[4]

Pukehou had a population of 351 in the [2023 New Zealand census](/source/2023_New_Zealand_census), a decrease of 24 people (−6.4%) since the [2018 census](/source/2018_New_Zealand_census), and a decrease of 6 people (−1.7%) since the [2013 census](/source/2013_New_Zealand_census). There were 186 males and 165 females in 135 dwellings.[5] 0.9% of people identified as [LGBTIQ+](/source/LGBTQ). There were 81 people (23.1%) aged under 15 years, 57 (16.2%) aged 15 to 29, 153 (43.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.[4]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.3% [European](/source/European_New_Zealanders) ([Pākehā](/source/P%C4%81keh%C4%81)); 35.0% [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_people); 5.1% [Pasifika](/source/Pasifika_New_Zealanders); 0.9% [Asian](/source/Asian_New_Zealanders); and 3.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 97.4%, Māori by 12.8%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). [New Zealand Sign Language](/source/New_Zealand_Sign_Language) was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]

Religious affiliations were 35.9% [Christian](/source/Christianity_in_New_Zealand), 2.6% [Māori religious beliefs](/source/M%C4%81ori_religious_beliefs), and 0.9% [New Age](/source/New_Age). People who answered that they had [no religion](/source/Irreligion_in_New_Zealand) were 53.0%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.[4]

Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (20.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 144 (53.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 69 (25.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 21 people (7.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 147 (54.4%) full-time, 45 (16.7%) part-time, and 6 (2.2%) unemployed.[4]

## Marae

Pukehou Marae and Keke Haunga meeting house is a meeting place of [Ngāti Kekehaunga](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Kekehaunga), [Ngāti Pukututu](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Pukututu) and [Ngāti Whatuiāpiti](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Whatui%C4%81piti), of [Ngāti Kahungunu](/source/Ng%C4%81ti_Kahungunu).[6][7]

In October 2020, the Government committed $6,020,910 from the [Provincial Growth Fund](/source/Provincial_Growth_Fund) to upgrade a group of 18 marae, including Pukehou Marae. The funding was expected to create 39 jobs.[8]

## Education

Pukehou School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school.[9][10] It had a roll of as of [11] The school opened in 1920, and new buildings opened in 1952.[12]

[Te Aute College](/source/Te_Aute_College) is a Year 9–15 boys' single-sex, state integrated secondary school.[13] It had a roll of as of [14] It opened in 1854 as Ahuriri Native Industrial School. Three new brick buildings were constructed in the 1920s.[15]

## Railway station

Pukehou had a [flag station](/source/Flag_station) on the [Palmerston North–Gisborne Line](/source/Palmerston_North%E2%80%93Gisborne_Line). It opened on Monday 28 August 1876, when the railway was extended from [Te Aute](/source/Te_Aute_railway_station) to [Waipawa](/source/Waipawa)[16] as part of the [Paki Paki](/source/Pakipaki) to [Waipukurau](/source/Waipukurau) contract, which international contractors, [Brogdens](/source/John_Brogden_and_Sons#Work_in_New_Zealand), were building.[17] By 1883 there were 3 trains a day in each direction,[18] serving a shelter shed, platform and a short siding. Stockyards were added in 1889 and, in 1912, an automatic [tablet](/source/Tyer's_Electric_Train_Tablet#Tyer's_tablet_working_in_New_Zealand) exchanger. On 8 December 1912 the name was changed to Te Aute, but Pukehou reverted to its original name on 14 September 1913.[16] The station closed to all traffic on 31 January 1966.[19]

On Sunday 12 November 1995 the Wellington to Napier [Bay Express](/source/Bay_Express#Accident_in_1995) derailed at Pukehou, due to taking a 50 km/h (31 mph) curve at 89 km/h (55 mph). One person died the following day.[20]

## References

1. ["Stats NZ Geographic Data Service"](https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/). Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 22 September 2025.

1. ["Geographic Boundary Viewer"](https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b). Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.

1. [[https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs](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.7016699%2B7033915%2B7033923.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7016699, 7033915 and 7033923. Retrieved 3 October 2024.

1. [[https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs](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%2Bdo1.7016699%2B7033915%2B7033923.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003 "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses"]. Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.

1. ["Te K��hui Māngai directory"](https://www.tkm.govt.nz/). *tkm.govt.nz*. [Te Puni Kōkiri](/source/Te_Puni_K%C5%8Dkiri)

1. ["Māori Maps"](https://maorimaps.com/map). *maorimaps.com*. Te Potiki National Trust.

1. ["Marae Announcements"](https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx) (Excel). *growregions.govt.nz*. [Provincial Growth Fund](/source/Provincial_Growth_Fund). 9 October 2020.

1. ["Official School Website"](https://www.pukehou.school.nz). *pukehou.school.nz*

1. ["Ministry of Education School Profile"](https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=2652). *educationcounts.govt.nz*. [Ministry of Education](/source/Ministry_of_Education_(New_Zealand))

1. ["Education Review Office Report"](https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/2652/pukehou-school). *ero.govt.nz*. [Education Review Office](/source/Education_Review_Office)

1. ["Pukehou School (Pukehou, Hawke's Bay, N.Z.)"](https://natlib.govt.nz/records/35441889). [National Library of New Zealand](/source/National_Library_of_New_Zealand)

1. ["Ministry of Education School Profile"](https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28&region=5&school=232). *educationcounts.govt.nz*. [Ministry of Education](/source/Ministry_of_Education_(New_Zealand))

1. ["Education Review Office Report"](https://www.ero.govt.nz/institution/232/te-aute-college). *ero.govt.nz*. [Education Review Office](/source/Education_Review_Office)

1. ["Our History"](https://teaute.maori.nz/our-history). Te Aute College. Retrieved 22 September 2025.

1. ["Station Archive"](http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Station_Archive_4web.xls). *NZR Rolling Stock Lists*. Retrieved 10 August 2020.

1. ["HAWKE'S BAY TIMES"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HBT18740101.2.11.1). *paperspast.natlib.govt.nz*. 1 Jan 1874. Retrieved 2021-07-20.

1. ["DAILY TELEGRAPH"](https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DTN18830109.2.2.2). *paperspast.natlib.govt.nz*. 9 January 1883. Retrieved 17 July 2021.

1. Scoble, Juliet (2010). ["Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations"](http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Dates_and_names.pdf). *Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand*

1. ["No. 95-117 Train 600 Pukehou"](https://www.taic.org.nz/sites/default/files/inquiry/documents/95-117.pdf). *Transport Accident Investigation Commission*

## External links

- [1890s photo of Pukehou swamp and railway](https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23205238)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pukehou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pukehou) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pukehou?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.