Raurimu

Raurimu is a settlement in Ruapehu District, New Zealand. State Highway 4 passes through it, and the North Island Main Trunk railway line runs to the east.^[6] The Raurimu Spiral, which allows the railway to climb 139 metres, is described as an engineering masterpiece by the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand.^[7]

Raurimu
T-rex sculpture made of driftwood
Interactive map of Raurimu
Coordinates: 39.124°S 175.392°E / -39.124; 175.392
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
District	Ruapehu District
Ward	Ruapehu General Ward Ruapehu Māori Ward
Community	Ōwhango-National Park Community
Electorate	Rangitīkei Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	Ruapehu District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council
• Mayor of Ruapehu	Weston Kirton[1]
• Rangitīkei MP	Suze Redmayne[2]
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area [4]
• Total	0.88 km2 (0.34 sq mi)
Population  (June 2025)[5]
• Total	90
• Density	100/km2 (260/sq mi)

Raurimu railway station served the town from 1906 until its closure in 1978.^[8]

A life-size driftwood sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex stands at the corner of Keitieke Road and State Highway 4.^[9]

Demographics

Raurimu is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.88 km² (0.34 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 90 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 102 people per km². It is part of the larger National Park statistical area.^[10]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	63	—
2013	63	+0.00%
2018	69	+1.84%
2023	84	+4.01%
Source: [11][12]

Raurimu had a population of 84 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (21.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (33.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 48 males and 36 females in 36 dwellings.^[13] 3.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 18 people (21.4%) aged under 15 years, 12 (14.3%) aged 15 to 29, 39 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.4% European (Pākehā), 7.1% Māori, and 3.6% Asian. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 3.6%, and other languages by 10.7%. No language could be spoken by 3.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 21.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[11]

Religious affiliations were 42.9% Christian, 3.6% New Age, and 3.6% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 46.4%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (22.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 36 (54.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 15 (22.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (4.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 33 (50.0%) full-time, 9 (13.6%) part-time, and 3 (4.5%) unemployed.^[11]