Oruanui

For the prehistoric eruption, see Oruanui eruption.

Oruanui (Māori: Ōruanui) is a rural community in the Taupō District and Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island, located northwest of Wairakei on State Highway 1.^[6]

Oruanui
Locality
Coordinates: 38.572°S 176.030°E / -38.572; 176.030
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato region
District	Taupō District
Ward	Mangakino-Pouakani General Ward Taupō East Rural General Ward
Electorates	Taupō Waiariki (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Taupō District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
• Mayor of Taupō	David Trewavas[1]
• Taupō MP	Louise Upston[2]
• Waiariki MP	Rawiri Waititi[3]
Area [4]
• Total	18.59 km2 (7.18 sq mi)
Population  (2023)[5]
• Total	402
• Density	22/km2 (56/sq mi)

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "place of many pits" for Ōruanui.^[7]

The local Ōruanui Marae is a meeting place of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Te Rangiita and Te Kapa o Te Rangiita. It includes the and Te Kapa o te Rangiita meeting house.^[8]

Demographics

Oruanui locality covers 18.59 km² (7.18 sq mi).^[4] It is part of the larger Ohakuri statistical area.^[9]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	333	—
2013	330	−0.13%
2018	366	+2.09%
2023	402	+1.89%
Source: [5][10]

Oruanui locality had a population of 402 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (9.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 72 people (21.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 201 males and 198 females in 147 dwellings.^[11] 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 63 people (15.7%) aged under 15 years, 60 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 207 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 75 (18.7%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.6% European (Pākehā); 12.7% Māori; 3.0% Pasifika; 3.7% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 3.0%, and other languages by 8.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 24.6% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.2%, and 8.2% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 42 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 213 (62.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 81 (23.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 42 people (12.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 201 (59.3%) full-time, 48 (14.2%) part-time, and 9 (2.7%) unemployed.^[5]