Frasertown

Frasertown is a small settlement in the northern Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's eastern North Island.

Frasertown
Coordinates: 38°58′S 177°24′E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay
Territorial authority	Wairoa District
Ward	Wairoa General Ward Wairoa Māori Ward
Electorates	Napier Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Wairoa District Council
• Mayor of Wairoa	Craig Little[1]
• Napier MP	Katie Nimon[2]
• Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP	Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3]
Area [4]
• Total	1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[5]
• Total	240
• Density	180/km2 (460/sq mi)

It is located inland from Wairoa at the junction of SH38, and the inland route (the Tiniroto Road; the former SH36) to Gisborne. State Highway 38 leads from Wai-O-Tapu via Murupara, The Ureweras, Lake Waikaremoana and Frasertown to Wairoa. It gives a short, but (partly) unsealed, winding and climbing connection to the Central North Island Rotorua. It is named for Major James Fraser, who led military forces in Wairoa in the 1860s.^[6][7]

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Frasertown as a rural settlement, which covers 1.36 km² (0.53 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 240 as of June 2024,^[5] with a population density of 176 people per km². It is part of the larger Frasertown-Ruakituri statistical area.^[8]

Historical population for Frasertown

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	252	—
2013	213	−2.37%
2018	255	+3.66%
2023	240	−1.21%
Source: [9][10]

Frasertown had a population of 240 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−5.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 114 males and 123 females in 90 dwellings.^[11] 1.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 42 people (17.5%) aged under 15 years, 42 (17.5%) aged 15 to 29, 99 (41.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (22.5%) aged 65 or older.^[9]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 55.0% European (Pākehā), 61.2% Māori, 2.5% Pasifika, and 2.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 16.2%, and other languages by 1.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[9]

Religious affiliations were 28.8% Christian, and 18.8% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 41.2%, and 8.8% of people did not answer the census question.^[9]

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (10.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 120 (60.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (28.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (7.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 93 (47.0%) full-time, 24 (12.1%) part-time, and 6 (3.0%) unemployed.^[9]

Frasertown-Ruakituri statistical area

Frasertown-Ruakituri statistical area, which also includes Ohuka and Ruakituri, covers 1,333.71 km² (514.95 sq mi)^[12] and had an estimated population of 910 as of June 2024,^[13] with a population density of 0.68 people per km².

Historical population of Frasertown-Ruakituri

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	927	—
2013	861	−1.05%
2018	861	+0.00%
2023	879	+0.41%
Source: [14][15]

Frasertown-Ruakituri had a population of 879 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (2.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (2.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 456 males, 420 females, and 3 people of other genders in 318 dwellings.^[16] 1.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 198 people (22.5%) aged under 15 years, 153 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 363 (41.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 165 (18.8%) aged 65 or older.^[14]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 67.2% European (Pākehā), 50.2% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, and 1.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.2%, Māori by 12.6%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 1.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[14]

Religious affiliations were 25.9% Christian, 10.9% Māori religious beliefs, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.0%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.^[14]

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (11.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 423 (62.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 180 (26.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people (6.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 354 (52.0%) full-time, 108 (15.9%) part-time, and 21 (3.1%) unemployed.^[14]

Marae

The township includes a number of marae (meeting grounds) and wharenui (meeting houses) for the local iwi (tribe) of Ngāti Kahungunu and its hapū (sub-tribes):^[17][18]

• Aranui Marae and Arapera or Te Poho o Ngapera wharenui, affiliated with Ngāi Tamaterangi and Ngāti Peehi hapū.
• Arimawha Marae, affiliates with Ngāti Tamaterangi hapū.
• Pākōwhai Marae and Te Huinga o Te Aroha wharenui, affiliated with Ngāti Mihi hapū.
• Pūtahi Marae and Te Poho o Hinepehinga wharenui, affiliated with Ngāti Hinepehinga hapū.

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,949,075 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade all four marae and 20 other Ngāti Kahungunu marae, creating 164 jobs.^[19]

Education

Frasertown School is a Year 1–6 co-educational state primary school.^[20] It is a decile 4 school with a roll of 112 as of July 2025.^[21][22] The school opened in 1868.^[23]