Potaka

Pōtaka (Māori: Pōtaka) is a village and rural community in Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island.^[6] It marks the northern and western end of the Gisborne District and the Ngāti Porou tribal territory.^[7]

Pōtaka
Settlement
Coordinates: 37.574°S 178.145°E / -37.574; 178.145
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	3.86 km2 (1.49 sq mi)
Population  (2023 Census)[5]
• Total	117
• Density	30.3/km2 (78.5/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	3199

The name Pōtaka was made official in November 2021.^[8] It means 'spinning top' in the Māori language.^[9]

Lottin Point Whakatiri, located north of the main village,^[10] features a motel and small reserve.^[7]

Demographics

Pōtaka locality covers 3.86 km² (1.49 sq mi).^[4] It is part of the East Cape statistical area.^[11]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	138	—
2013	117	−2.33%
2018	96	−3.88%
2023	117	+4.04%
Source: [5][12]

Pōtaka had a population of 117 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (21.9%) since the 2018 census, and unchanged since the 2013 census. There were 66 males and 51 females in 39 dwellings.^[13] 2.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 27 people (23.1%) aged under 15 years, 18 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 54 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 18 (15.4%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 43.6% European (Pākehā), 71.8% Māori, and 2.6% Asian. English was spoken by 92.3%, Māori by 30.8%, and other languages by 5.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 7.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 25.6% Christian, and 7.7% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.4%, and 10.3% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (13.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 48 (53.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (36.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (6.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 33 (36.7%) full-time, 18 (20.0%) part-time, and 9 (10.0%) unemployed.^[5]

Marae

The local Pōtaka Marae is a meeting place for Te Whānau-ā-Apanui's hapū of Te Whānau a Rutaia, and the Ngāti Porou hapū of Te Whānau a Tapuaeururangi.^[14] It includes a meeting house, known as Te Ēhutu and Te Pae o Ngā Pakanga.^[15]

In October 2020, the Government committed $520,760 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Hinemaurea ki Wharekahika and Pōtaka Marae, creating 12 jobs.^[16]

Education

Potaka School is a Year 1-8 co-educational state primary school^[17] with a roll of 48 students as of July 2025.^[18][19] The school was established by 1935.^[20]