Pātūtahi

Pātūtahi is a small settlement 15 kilometres from Gisborne, in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in the valley of the Waipaoa River.^[6] From 1915 to 1931 Pātūtahi had a railway station on the Ngātapa Branch.

Pātūtahi
Settlement
Coordinates: 38°37′S 177°54′E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Gisborne District
Ward	Tairāwhiti General Ward
Electorates	East Coast Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Gisborne District Council
• Mayor of Gisborne	Rehette Stoltz[1]
• East Coast MP	Dana Kirkpatrick[2]
• Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP	Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3]
Area [4]
• Total	3.12 km2 (1.20 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[5]
• Total	350
• Density	110/km2 (290/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4072

The name was officially modified to include macrons in 2021.^[7][8]

Demographics

Stats NZ describes Pātūtahi as a rural settlement, which covers 3.12 km² (1.20 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 350 as of June 2024,^[5] with a population density of 112 people per km². It is part of the larger Te Arai statistical area.^[9]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	339	—
2013	318	−0.91%
2018	330	+0.74%
2023	339	+0.54%
Source: [10][11]

Pātūtahi had a population of 339 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (2.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (6.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 168 males and 168 females in 111 dwellings.^[12] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 81 people (23.9%) aged under 15 years, 57 (16.8%) aged 15 to 29, 147 (43.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (15.9%) aged 65 or older.^[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 46.0% European (Pākehā), 64.6% Māori, 6.2% Pasifika, and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.3%, Māori by 22.1%, and other languages by 0.9%. No language could be spoken by 0.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 7.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[10]

Religious affiliations were 33.6% Christian, 5.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 46.9%, and 11.5% of people did not answer the census question.^[10]

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 144 (55.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 75 (29.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (4.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 129 (50.0%) full-time, 45 (17.4%) part-time, and 6 (2.3%) unemployed.^[10]

Parks

Patutahi Soccer Ground is a sports ground in Pātūtahi.^[13]

Marae

The area has three marae belonging to the hapū of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.

Pakowhai Marae and Te Poho o Hiraina meeting house, and Rongopai Marae and meeting house are a meeting place of Te Whānau a Kai.

Takitimu Marae and Te Poho o Whakarau Oratanga a Tamure meeting house are a meeting place of Ngā Pōtiki and Te Whānau a Kai.^[14][15]

In October 2020, the Government committed $499,625 from the Provincial Growth Fund towards a fire alarm and stormwater upgrade to Rongopai Marae, creating an estimated 7.7 jobs. It also committed $460,500 to upgrade Pakowhai Marae, Takitimu Marae and Ngātapa Marae, creating 13 jobs.^[16]

Education

Patutahi School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school^[17] with a roll of 64 as of March 2025.^[18] The school started in 1878.^[19]