The community had a population of 897 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 132 people (17.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 207 people (30.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 453 males, 441 females, and 3 people of other genders in 294 dwellings.[8] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 180 people (20.1%) aged under 15 years, 150 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 423 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 141 (15.7%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.0% European (Pākehā); 23.1% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori by 4.7%, Samoan by 1.0%, and other languages by 7.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 37.1% Christian, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.2%, and 5.0% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 201 (28.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 399 (55.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 126 (17.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 123 people (17.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 393 (54.8%) full-time, 129 (18.0%) part-time, and 18 (2.5%) unemployed.[5]
Poukawa statistical area
Poukawa statistical area covers 339.92km2 (131.24sqmi)[9] and had an estimated population of 1,620 as of June 2025,[10] with a population density of 4.8 people per km2.
Historical population for Poukawa statistical area
The statistical area had a population of 1,569 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 204 people (14.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 297 people (23.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 804 males, 759 females, and 6 people of other genders in 540 dwellings.[13] 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 282 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 261 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 762 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 264 (16.8%) aged 65 or older.[11]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.4% European (Pākehā); 25.0% Māori; 2.9% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 5.9%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]
Religious affiliations were 35.9% Christian, 0.2% Islam, 3.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.5%, and 4.6% of people did not answer the census question.[11]
Of those at least 15 years old, 339 (26.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 690 (53.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 255 (19.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 183 people (14.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 738 (57.3%) full-time, 201 (15.6%) part-time, and 30 (2.3%) unemployed.[11]
Te Whatuiāpiti Marae and meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāti Whatuiāpiti.[14][15] In October 2020, the Government committed $887,291 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 4 others, creating 12 jobs.[16]
Kahurānaki Marae and Kahurānaki meeting house is a meeting place of Ngāi Te Rangikoianake and Ngāti Whatuiāpiti.[14][15] In October 2020, the Government committed $6,020,910 to upgrade Kahurānaki and 17 other marae, creating 39 jobs.[16]
Education
Poukawa School is a co-educational state primary school,[17] with a roll of 101 as of July 2025.[18][19] The school was established in 1921.[20]
Railway station
Poukawa had a flag station, opened on 16 February 1876, as part of the Paki Paki to Te Aute section of the Palmerston North–Gisborne Line. By 1891 there were 3 trains a day in each direction,[21] serving a shelter shed, platform, cart approach, loading bank and a short siding.[22] In 1912 an automatic tablet exchanger was added.[22] In 1929 a passing loop was added, which was moved north east, near to Te Mahanga Road, in 1958. In the 1931 earthquake the line near Te Mahanga Road was displaced by about 5ft (1.5m).[23] In 1967 Te Mahunga Road crossing gained flashing lights and bells, which were added the next year to Station Road crossing as well.[22] The station lost its passenger service on 3 August 1959 and closed on 1 August 1971.[24]
Te Hauke platform
After an 1884 petition for a platform at Te Hauke, 2mi 27ch (3.8km) south of Poukawa, described as a Native Settlement, a short platform was provided in 1886 and a shelter shed in 1906. Te Hauke closed to all traffic on 21 Nov 1958.[22]
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