Kuratau

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Wikipedia

Kuratau
Rural settlement
Kuratau Beach
Kuratau Beach
Interactive map of Kuratau
Coordinates: 38°53′36″S 175°46′11″E / 38.893347°S 175.769783°E / -38.893347; 175.769783
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato region
DistrictTaupō District
WardTurangi-Tongariro General Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityTaupō District Council
 • Regional councilWaikato Regional Council
 • Mayor of TaupōJohn Funnell[1]
 • Taupō MPLouise Upston[2]
 • Waiariki MPRawiri Waititi[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
4.50 km2 (1.74 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
110
 • Density24/km2 (63/sq mi)

Kuratau is a small village north of Omori and south of Whareroa Village, on the western side of New Zealand's Lake Taupō.[6]

The Kuratau Power Station was built on the Kuratau River near the town and completed in 1962.

Lake Taupō is eroding Kuratau's foreshore at an increasing rate.[7]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Kuratau as a rural settlement, which covers 4.50 km2 (1.74 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 24 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupō Bays statistical area.[8]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200687—    
201393+0.96%
201893+0.00%
2023105+2.46%
Source: [9][10]

Kuratau had a population of 105 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (12.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 12 people (12.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 54 males and 48 females in 81 dwellings.[11] The median age was 63.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6 people (5.7%) aged under 15 years, 9 (8.6%) aged 15 to 29, 45 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (45.7%) aged 65 or older.[9]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 97.1% European (Pākehā), 14.3% Māori, and 2.9% Asian. English was spoken by 97.1%, and other languages by 5.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 2.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[9]

Religious affiliations were 31.4% Christian, and 2.9% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.6%, and 17.1% of people did not answer the census question.[9]

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (24.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 60 (60.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 15 (15.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (6.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 33 (33.3%) full-time, 15 (15.2%) part-time, and 3 (3.0%) unemployed.[9]

Marae

The local Poukura Marae and Parekawa meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Parekāwa.[12][13]

Education

Kuratau School is a co-educational state primary school,[14][15] with a roll of 92 as of July 2025.[16][17] Two schools opened at Hauia and Otaranga in the early 1940s and lasted for a few years. Schools at Moerangi and Rotomoho closed in 1957, when Kuratau School opened. Kuratau School was formally opened on 23 April 1958.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
  2. ↑ New Zealand Electoral Commission. "Taupō - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Waiariki – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Place name detail: Kuratau". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  7. ↑ Mitchell, Charlie (25 March 2023). "The 'idyllic' community being eaten away by the electricity market". Stuff.
  8. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Kuratau (1211). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7013295.
  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. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  13. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  14. ↑ "Kuratau School Official School Website". kuratau.school.nz.
  15. ↑ "Kuratau School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  16. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Kuratau School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.[permanent dead link]
  18. ↑ "School History". Kuratau School. Retrieved 15 May 2025.