Kotemaori

Kotemaori Te Moari
Interactive map of Kotemaori
Coordinates: 39°03′45″S177°02′25″E / 39.06250°S 177.04028°E / -39.06250; 177.04028
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay Region
Territorial authority	Wairoa District
Ward	Wairoa General Ward Wairoa Māori Ward
Electorates	Napier Ikaroa-Rāwhiti (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Wairoa District Council
•  Mayor of Wairoa	Craig Little [1]
•  Napier MP	Katie Nimon [2]
•  Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP	Cushla Tangaere-Manuel [3]
Area [4]
• Total	265.80 km2 (102.63 sq mi)
Population  (2023 Census) [5]
• Total	135
• Density	0.508/km2 (1.32/sq mi)

Kotemaori is a village and rural community located in the Wairoa District of the Hawke's Bay Region, in New Zealand's North Island. It is located between Raupunga and Putorino, to the west of Wairoa (to which it is connected by State Highway 2). ^[6] The settlement itself lies immediately to the south of the highway.

The area includes steep forestry land where dogs have been regularly rescued. ^[7] The settlement is surrounded on three sides by small streams which eventually flow into the Mohaka River 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) to the northeast of Kotemaori.

A rail line, part of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line, lies close to the settlement, which was formerly served by Kotemaori railway station. The part of the line between Napier and Gisborne was effectively mothballed in 2012. In June 2019 the line reopened for freight-only traffic, specifically the transportation of logs from forestry sites around Wairoa to the port at Napier. ^[8] The line has been closed since 14 February 2023 due to damage from Cyclone Gabrielle.

Etymology

The local landowner, George Bee, built a new homestead about 1921. An old coat belonging to a Māori person was found at the new site, so Bee called the homestead Kotemaori, which means 'Māori coat'. The original name for the area was 'Te Moari', which means the swing or slide. ^[9]

Demographics

Kotemaori and its surrounds cover 265.80 km² (102.63 sq mi). ^[4] It is part of the Maungataniwha-Raupunga statistical area. ^[10]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	120	—
2013	117	−0.36%
2018	129	+1.97%
2023	135	+0.91%
Source: [5] [11]

Kotemaori had a population of 135 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (4.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (15.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 84 males and 51 females in 45 dwellings. ^[12] 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 24 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 33 (24.4%) aged 15 to 29, 66 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (8.9%) aged 65 or older. ^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 53.3% European (Pākehā), 22.2% Māori, 31.1% Pasifika, and 8.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 91.1%, Māori by 8.9%, and other languages by 15.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 28.9, compared with 28.8% nationally. ^[5]

Religious affiliations were 44.4% Christian, and 2.2% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 46.7%, and 6.7% of people did not answer the census question. ^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 6 (5.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 87 (78.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 21 (18.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $35,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (5.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 66 (59.5%) full-time, 12 (10.8%) part-time, and 9 (8.1%) unemployed. ^[5]

Education

Kotemaori School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school. ^[13] It is a decile 4 school with a roll of 18 as of July 2025. ^{[14] [15]} It opened in 1926. ^[16] The school suffered from water damage during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, and asbestos was found in the buildings subsequently. Students spent more than a year at Putorino School while new classrooms were built. ^[17]

References

1. "RESULTS for Wairoa District Council Local Election 2025". Wairoa District Council. 17 October 2025.
2. "Napier - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 1 August 2025.
3. "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
4. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 21 August 2025.
5. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7015749. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
6. Hariss, Gavin. "Kotemaori, Hawke's Bay". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
7. Ashton, Andrew (6 September 2018). "Deja woof – again – for SPCA animal rescue squad at Kotemaori cliff in Hawke's Bay". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. New Zealand Herald.
8. Sharpe, Marty (6 October 2016). "Napier to Wairoa rail line shaking off the mothballs to reopen next year". Stuff. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
9. "Place name detail: Kotemaori". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand.
10. "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
11. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015749.
12. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
13. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
14. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
15. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
16. "Kotemaori School – Golden Jubilee Celebrations, 1926-1976". Jubilee Committee. 1976.
17. Gower, Michaela (30 September 2024). "Kotemaori School students to start Term 4 in new classrooms after Cyclone Gabrielle rebuild". Hawkes Bay Today .