Matapu

Matapu is a locality located in South Taranaki District within the southern Taranaki Region of New Zealand. Hāwera is to the south-east, Eltham to the north-east, Kaponga to the north-west and Manaia to the south-west.^[6][7]

Matapu
Coordinates: 39°28′47″S 174°13′38″E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Taranaki
District	South Taranaki District
Ward	Eltham-Kaponga General Ward Te Kūrae Māori Ward
Community	Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates	Whanganui Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	South Taranaki District Council
• Regional council	Taranaki Regional Council
• Mayor of South Taranaki	Phil Nixon[1]
• Whanganui MP	Carl Bates[2]
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area [4]
• Total	21.28 km2 (8.22 sq mi)
Population  (2023 census)[5]
• Total	120
• Density	5.6/km2 (15/sq mi)

Demographics

Matapu locality covers 21.28 km² (8.22 sq mi).^[4] The locality is part of the larger Okaiawa statistical area.^[8]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	147	—
2013	120	−2.86%
2018	120	+0.00%
2023	120	+0.00%
Source: [5][9]

Matapu had a population of 120 in the 2023 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2018 census, and unchanged since the 2013 census. There were 63 males and 57 females in 39 dwellings.^[10] 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 32.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 36 people (30.0%) aged under 15 years, 24 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 48 (40.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (12.5%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 77.5% European (Pākehā), 37.5% Māori, and 5.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.0%, Māori by 10.0%, and other languages by 5.0%. No language could be spoken by 5.0% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 5.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 22.5% Christian, 5.0% Hindu, and 5.0% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.0%, and 12.5% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (7.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 48 (57.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (39.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (7.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 48 (57.1%) full-time and 12 (14.3%) part-time.^[5]

Marae

Matapu has three marae, associated with Ngāruahine hapū.

• Aotearoa Marae and its Ngākaunui are affiliated with Ōkahu-Inuāwai.^[11][12]
• Te Aroha o Tītokowaru Marae and Te Aroha meeting house belong to Ngāti Manuhiakai.^[11][12]
• Kanihi or Māwhitiwhiti Marae and Kanihi meeting house are affiliated with Kanihi-Umutahi.^[11][12]

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,259,392 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Aotearoa Marae and 7 other Ngāti Raukawa marae, creating 18 jobs.^[13]

Education

Matapu School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a decile rating of 7 and a roll of 75.^[14] In 2005, Okaiawa and Mangatoki Schools closed and merged with Matapu School.^[15]