Pakowhai is a small settlement in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is a located between Napier and Hastings, north of the Ngaruroro River.[1]

Pakowhai
Settlement
Coordinates: 39.581280°S 176.866974°E / -39.581280; 176.866974
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay Region
Territorial authority	Hastings District
Ward	Heretaunga
Postcode(s)	4183

Mission Estate Winery established its first vineyard in Hawke's Bay at Pakowhai in 1851.[2]

The Pakowhai Regional Park is located on the river's south bank. It is a country park,[3] with dog-walking areas and agility features.[4] It hosts community planting days,[5] and attracts kaka from inland mountains.[6]

A new petrol station was controversially proposed for the area in 2019.[7]

Demographics

The statistical area of Omahu-Pakowhai, which covers 46 square kilometres and also includes Omahu and Waiohiki, had a population of 1,434 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 342 people (31.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 273 people (23.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 429 households. There were 774 males and 660 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 39.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 276 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 282 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 666 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 61.9% European/Pākehā, 37.9% Māori, 8.6% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 14.0%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 47.3% had no religion, 38.1% were Christian, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 7.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (15.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 240 (20.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 648 (56.0%) people were employed full-time, 195 (16.8%) were part-time, and 51 (4.4%) were unemployed.[8]

Education

Pakowhai School is a Year 1-6 co-educational state primary school,[9] with a roll of 26 as of July 2022.[10][11]

References