Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Auroa

Auroa is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand. Ōpunake is to the west, Kaponga to the northeast, and Manaia to the southeast. Mount Taranaki is directly north of Auroa.

Last revised
Jul 25, 2026
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Wikipedia ↗
Auroa
Map
Interactive map of Auroa
Coordinates: 39°29′1″S 174°2′38″E / 39.48361°S 174.04389°E / -39.48361; 174.04389
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki
Territorial authoritySouth Taranaki District
Ward
  • Taranaki Coastal General Ward
  • Eltham-Kaponga General Ward
  • Te Kūrae Māori Ward
Community
  • Taranaki Coastal Community
  • Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthoritySouth Taranaki District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of South TaranakiPhil Nixon3
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates4
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer5
Area
1
 • Total
47.13 km2 (18.20 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)2
 • Total
264
 • Density5.60/km2 (14.5/sq mi)

Auroa is a locality in southern Taranaki, New Zealand. Ōpunake is to the west, Kaponga to the northeast, and Manaia to the southeast. Mount Taranaki is directly north of Auroa.67

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "long cloud" for Auroa.8

Demographics

Auroa locality covers 41.13 km2 (15.88 sq mi).1 It is part of the larger Taungatara statistical area.9

Historical population for Auroa locality
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006297—    
2013291−0.29%
2018270−1.49%
2023264−0.45%
Source: 210

Auroa had a population of 264 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−2.2%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−9.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 132 males and 132 females in 99 dwellings.11 3.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 63 people (23.9%) aged under 15 years, 51 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 123 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 27 (10.2%) aged 65 or older.2

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.2% European (Pākehā), 15.9% Māori, 2.3% Pasifika, and 3.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 2.3%, Samoan by 1.1%, and other languages by 3.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.2

Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.6%, and 8.0% of people did not answer the census question.2

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (6.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 129 (64.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 54 (26.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 15 people (7.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 126 (62.7%) full-time, 21 (10.4%) part-time, and 6 (3.0%) unemployed.2

Taungatara statistical area

Taungatara statistical area, which also includes Otakeho, Te Kiri and Pihama, covers 313.03 km2 (120.86 sq mi)12 and had an estimated population of 1,350 as of June 2025,13 with a population density of 4.3 people per km2.

Historical population for Taungatara
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,431—    
20131,380−0.52%
20181,326−0.80%
20231,311−0.23%
Source: 1415

Taungatara had a population of 1,311 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−1.1%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 69 people (−5.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 672 males, 633 females, and 6 people of other genders in 468 dwellings.16 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 336 people (25.6%) aged under 15 years, 249 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 594 (45.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 129 (9.8%) aged 65 or older.14

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.2% European (Pākehā); 19.5% Māori; 1.6% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.5% 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 97.9%, Māori by 2.5%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 4.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.14

Religious affiliations were 31.6% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.3%, and 9.2% of people did not answer the census question.14

Of those at least 15 years old, 123 (12.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 606 (62.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 243 (24.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 90 people (9.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 573 (58.8%) full-time, 156 (16.0%) part-time, and 21 (2.2%) unemployed.14

Otakeho

Otakeho is a part of the Taungatara statistical area, to the south of Auroa and west of the Otakeho Stream (rising on Mount Taranaki and reaching the Tasman Sea at Otakeho),17 on SH45.18 It has a hall (built in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee),19 a boarded up store20 (probably built about 1920)21 and a few houses. To the west of Otakeho is Ngāruahine's Tawhitinui Marae.22

Otakeho has a small sandy beach, beyond Dingle Road,23 at the foot of 40 m (130 ft) high cliffs.24 It is used for fishing23 and has a poorly protected,25 nationally threatened, variety of Craspedia, Craspedia Otakeho.26

It once also had a school (188427-200328 - the buildings remain),29 a Category 2 listed church (sold in 201830 and moved to Pihama in 2021),31 an hotel32 (rebuilt33 after a 1907 fire34 and since burnt down again),35 a post office, a smithy and a dairy factory,36 which occupied several buildings.37

The Ōpunake to New Plymouth bus runs through Otakeho daily in each direction, except at weekends.38

Education

Auroa School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 157 students as of March 2026.3940 It opened in 1891 as Ratana School, and was renamed Auroa School in 1898.41 Schools at Pihama, Riverlea and Te Kiri were closed and merged into Auroa School in 2004.42

Association Football

The Auroa Association Football club was formed in May 1907.43 After the First World War the club re-emerged with two sides. A story of an Auroa player who covered nearly 20 miles on a ladies bicycle in just over an hour to deliver a misplaced bag to the Hawera train station appeared in the local newspaper in 1923.44 In 1924 Mr. W. Brown from Auroa captained Taranaki against Chinese Universities at Hawera's Showgrounds. In 1926 Auroa won the Taranaki Championship and Julian Cup.45 In 1927 Mr. Freakley from Auroa captained Taranaki against Canada at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.46

References

References

  1. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  2. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017385 and 7017387. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  3. "Declaration of Results of Election and Poll" (PDF). South Taranaki District Council. 17 October 2025.
  4. "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  5. "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  6. Peter Dowling, ed. (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, pp. map 34, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8
  7. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, pp. map 96, ISBN 1-877333-20-4
  8. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  9. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  10. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017385 and 7017387.
  11. "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.
  12. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  13. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  14. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Taungatara (220600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Taungatara (220600). 2018 Census place summary: Taungatara
  16. "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.
  17. "Otakeho Water Quantity Data". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  18. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  19. Ron. "Otakeho Hall - 1897". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  20. "2071 South Rd Otakeho, Taranaki". Google Maps. June 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  21. "BUSINESS NOTICES. HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 March 1921. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  22. "Tawhitinui Marae". Archived from the original on 22 April 2017.
  23. "Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the Taranaki Region" (PDF). January 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 April 2017.
  24. "Otakeho Stream, Taranaki". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  25. "The Taranaki Inc Biodiversity Strategy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 April 2017.
  26. "New Zealand Flora". nzflora.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  27. "EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE. HAWERA STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 4 May 1934. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  28. "Otakeho war memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  29. "2121 South Rd Otakeho, Taranaki". Google Maps. February 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  30. "Otakeho church tender offers closed, attracts a flurry of interest". Stuff. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  31. "Search the List | St John the Divine Church (Former) [Relocated] | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  32. "photograph of Otakeho Hotel with a group of people outside". Nelson Provincial Museum. 1890. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  33. "HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 January 1908. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  34. "FIRE AT OTAKEHO. HAWERA & NORMANBY STAR". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 August 1907. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  35. "Nicholls Story Farming Agricultural Vetenarian Scholarships BA Taranaki". Bashford-Nicholls Trust. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  36. "Otakeho". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. 1908. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  37. Ron. "T.L. Joll Co-op - Otakeho Factory". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  38. "Hāwera-New Plymouth (extending from Ōpunake first service)". July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022.
  39. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  40. "Auroa School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  41. "Auroa School & Districts Centennial" (PDF). 1991.
  42. "Education Review Report: Auroa School". Education Review Office. April 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  43. "Auroa". Opunaki Times. 21 May 1907. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  44. "Association Football". Papers Past. 23 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021.
  45. "New Zealand - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  46. "Association Football". Stratford Evening Post. 23 May 1927. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
Further reading

Further reading

General historical works

  • Brown, Beryl, ed. (1991), Auroa: school & districts centennial, 1891-1991, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press & Printing, ISBN 0-908904-09-6

Clubs and organisations

  • Auroa Highland Pipe Band Inc.: 1928-1978: Golden Jubilee souvenir booklet: 3rd & 4th June,1978., Auroa, [N.Z.]: Auroa Highland Pipe Band Inc., 1978

Schools

  • School register index: Oeo 1910 - 1984 : Otakeho to 1984 : Te Roti to 1984 : Tokaora to 1984 : Matapu to 1984 : Auroa : Okaiawa to 1984 : Kapuni, n.p.: n.p., n.d.
  • Brown, Beryl, ed. (1991), Auroa: school & districts centennial, 1891-1991, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford Press & Printing, ISBN 0-908904-09-6
  • Robins, Patricia, ed. (1966), Auroa (Ratanui) School 75th jubilee, 1891-1966, Auroa, [N.Z.]: 75th Jubilee Executive Committee