Pounawea

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Pounawea
Pounawea
Interactive map of Pounawea
Coordinates: 46°29′S169°42′E / 46.483°S 169.700°E / -46.483; 169.700
Country New Zealand
Region Otago
District Clutha District
WardCatlins
Electorates
Government
  Territorial authority Clutha District Council
  Regional council Otago Regional Council
   Mayor of Clutha Jock Martin [1]
   Southland MP Joseph Mooney
   Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris
Area
[2]
  Total
0.37 km2 (0.14 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025) [3]
  Total
120
  Density320/km2 (840/sq mi)

Pounawea is a small town in The Catlins, an area of the southern South Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres southwest of Owaka, at the mouth of the Catlins River. [4] It is a popular holiday spot with a seasonal population, there are numerous cribs (holiday homes) at the settlement.

Demographics

Pounawea is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.37 km2 (0.14 sq mi), [2] and had an estimated population of 120 as of June 2025, [3] with a population density of 324 people per km2. It is part of the much larger Catlins statistical area. [5]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200654    
201363+2.23%
201851−4.14%
Source: [6]

Pounawea had a population of 51 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−19.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 3 people (−5.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 24 households, comprising 24 males and 30 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.8 males per female. The median age was 55.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6 people (11.8%) aged under 15 years, 3 (5.9%) aged 15 to 29, 30 (58.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (29.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.1% European/Pākehā, 5.9% Māori, 5.9% Pasifika, 5.9% Asian, and 5.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.8% had no religion, 41.2% were Christian, and 5.9% were Buddhist.

Of those at least 15 years old, 3 (6.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 9 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6 people (13.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24 (53.3%) people were employed full-time, and 6 (13.3%) were part-time. [6]

References

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Pounawea at Wikimedia Commons

  1. "Results - Local Body Elections 2025". Clutha District Council. 17 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  4. Harriss, Gavin (November 2021). Pounawea, Otago (Map). NZ Topomap.
  5. 2018 Census place summary: Catlins
  6. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7029113.