Takaro

Takaro is a suburb and constituent ward of Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand.

Takaro
Suburb
The former Guy Homestead at 16 Guy Avenue
Coordinates: 40.352°S 175.593°E / -40.352; 175.593
Country	New Zealand
City	Palmerston North
Local authority	Palmerston North City Council
Electoral ward	Te Hirawanui General Ward Te Pūao Māori Ward
Area [1]
• Land	200 ha (500 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	6,080

Cloverlea		Milson
Westbrook, Highbury	Takaro	Papaioea
Awapuni	West End	Palmerston North Central

It is located east of Highbury, west of Palmerston North Hospital Area and north of the CBD. It had a resident population of 5,253 in 2013, making up 6.6% of Palmerston North's population.^[3]

The area includes Takaro Park, Kawau Stream Reserve, Clausen Reserve, Gloucester Reserve, Coronation Park, Takaro Bowling Club, Takaro Tennis Club, Masonic Court, Rose A Lea Retirement Home and Palmerston Manor Retirement Home.^[4]

Demographics

Takaro covers 2.00 km² (0.77 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 6,080 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 3,040 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	5,631	—
2013	5,571	−0.15%
2018	5,748	+0.63%
Source: [5]

Takaro had a population of 5,748 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 177 people (3.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 117 people (2.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,163 households, comprising 2,823 males and 2,919 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female, with 1,104 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 1,647 (28.7%) aged 15 to 29, 2,331 (40.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 669 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 75.6% European/Pākehā, 22.6% Māori, 7.0% Pacific peoples, 9.3% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.0% had no religion, 31.7% were Christian, 1.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.4% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 1.3% were Buddhist and 2.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 903 (19.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 840 (18.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 459 people (9.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,319 (49.9%) people were employed full-time, 675 (14.5%) were part-time, and 249 (5.4%) were unemployed.^[5]

Individual statistical areas

Name	Area (km2)	Population	Density (per km2)	Households	Median age	Median income
Takaro North	1.12	3,294	2,941	1,251	31.8 years	$27,800[6]
Takaro South	0.88	2,454	2,789	912	30.2 years	$29,700[7]
New Zealand					37.4 years	$31,800

Education

Takaro School is a co-educational state primary school,^[8][9] with a roll of 210 as of March 2025.^[10]

Monrad Intermediate is a co-educational state intermediate school,^[11][12] with a roll of 380.^[13]

Our Lady of Lourdes School is a state-integrated Catholic primary school,^[14][15] with a roll of 131.^[16]