Tawhero

Tawhero is a suburb of Whanganui, in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

Tawhero
Suburb
Coordinates: 39.936363°S 175.015738°E / -39.936363; 175.015738
Country	New Zealand
City	Whanganui
Local authority	Whanganui District Council
Area [1]
• Land	164 ha (405 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	3,160

	Springvale	College Estate
Castlecliff	Tawhero	Gonville
	Castlecliff	Gonville

Demographics

Titoki statistical area, which corresponds to Tawhero, covers 1.64 km² (0.63 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,160 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 1,927 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	2,721	—
2013	2,568	−0.82%
2018	2,943	+2.76%
Source: [3]

Titoki had a population of 2,943 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 375 people (14.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 222 people (8.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,098 households, comprising 1,449 males and 1,491 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 39.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 636 people (21.6%) aged under 15 years, 552 (18.8%) aged 15 to 29, 1,173 (39.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 582 (19.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 67.7% European/Pākehā, 35.8% Māori, 7.1% Pacific peoples, 5.0% Asian, and 1.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 46.7% had no religion, 35.6% were Christian, 5.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 183 (7.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 666 (28.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 102 people (4.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 852 (36.9%) people were employed full-time, 309 (13.4%) were part-time, and 150 (6.5%) were unemployed.^[3]

Education

Tawhero School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[4] with a roll of 147 as of March 2025.^[5]

St Marcellin School is a co-educational state-integrated Christian primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[6][7] with a roll of 44.^[8]

Rutherford Junior High is a co-educational state intermediate school,^[9] with a roll of 143.^[10]