Taupiri

Taupiri
Town
2010 view of Taupiri and the Waikato, withKakepukuandMount Pirongiain the background
Coordinates:37°37′S175°11′E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
District	Waikato District
Ward	Ngaruawahia Ward
Community	Taupiri Community
Electorates	Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Government
• Territorial Authority	Waikato District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
Area
• Total	1.73 km2(0.67 sq mi)
Population (June 2023)
• Total	640
• Density	370/km2(960/sq mi)

Taupiriis a small town of about 500 people on the eastern bank of theWaikato Riverin theWaikato DistrictofNew Zealand.It is overlooked byTaupiri mountain,the sacred burial ground for theWaikato tribesof the Māori people, located just to the north.

Taupiri is located near the northern end of theWaikato Basinimmediately south of the junction of the Mangawara Stream (which drains the northern part of the basin) and the Waikato River. The Waikato River then flows northward through the Taupiri Gorge between theHakarimata Rangeto the south and theTaupiri Rangeto the north, into the Lower Waikato.

TheNorth Island Main Trunkrailway line runs through the town and the gorge, linkingHuntly8 kilometres to the north andNgāruawāhia7 kilometres to the south.State Highway 1also ran through the town until theHuntly Bypassopened in March 2020.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Taupiri as a rural settlement, which covers 1.73 km²(0.67 sq mi)and had an estimated population of 640 as of June 2023,with a population density of 370 people per km².Taupiri is part of the larger Taupiri-Lake Kainui statistical area.

Historical population for Taupiri

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	444	—
2013	420	−0.79%
2018	492	+3.22%
Source:

Taupiri had a population of 492 at the2018 New Zealand census,an increase of 72 people (17.1%) since the2013 census,and an increase of 48 people (10.8%) since the2006 census.There were 183 households, comprising 243 males and 243 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female, with 93 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 96 (19.5%) aged 15 to 29, 216 (43.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 87 (17.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 74.4% European/Pākehā,40.2%Māori,4.3%Pacific peoples,1.8%Asian,and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 50.6% had no religion, 31.7% wereChristian,1.8% hadMāori religious beliefs,0.6% wereHinduand 3.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (8.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 123 (30.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 45 people (11.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 174 (43.6%) people were employed full-time, 48 (12.0%) were part-time, and 42 (10.5%) were unemployed.

Taupiri-Lake Kainui statistical area

Taupiri-Lake Kainui statistical area extends southeast towardsHorsham Downs.Since the 2018 census, the boundaries ofNgāruawāhiahave enlarged to include some of this area. Taupiri-Lake Kainui covers 47.97 km²(18.52 sq mi).It had an estimated population of 2,250 as of June 2023,with a population density of 47 people per km².

Historical population of Taupiri-Lake Kainui

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,752	—
2013	1,935	+1.43%
2018	2,220	+2.79%
Source:

Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a larger boundary, covering 49.76 km²(19.21 sq mi).Using that boundary, Taupiri-Lake Kainui had a population of 2,220 at the2018 New Zealand census,an increase of 285 people (14.7%) since the2013 census,and an increase of 468 people (26.7%) since the2006 census.There were 753 households, comprising 1,131 males and 1,092 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 38.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 492 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 408 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,059 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 264 (11.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 76.9% European/Pākehā,28.9%Māori,3.4%Pacific peoples,3.5%Asian,and 2.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.1% had no religion, 38.0% wereChristian,2.4% hadMāori religious beliefs,0.5% wereHindu,0.5% wereBuddhistand 2.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 237 (13.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 381 (22.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 324 people (18.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 912 (52.8%) people were employed full-time, 249 (14.4%) were part-time, and 96 (5.6%) were unemployed.

History and culture

Pre-European history

Kaitotehe, the pā of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, withMount Taupiriin the background (Angas1846)

Until sometime in the 19th century, a largeMāorivillage or town,Kaitotehe,stood on the flat land on the other side of the river, below the Hakarimata Range.

In early years it was the headquarters ofNgāti Mahuta.Te Putu built Taupiripāon the summit of a spur of Taupiri mountain, in the 17th century. When Te Putu was killed, he was buried at the pā, which thus becametapu(sacred) and was abandoned. Early European travellers in the area were obliged by Māori to cross to the other side of the Waikato River to avoid the sacred area. In the early 19th century, Kaitotehe was the home ofPōtatau Te Wherowhero,the paramount chief of Ngāti Mahuta who became the firstMāori King.

Post-European history

Taupiri township was settled byEuropeansin the 1870s (arailway stationopened in 1877),and became a farming centre, withflax millsand a sawmill.A dairy factory was built in 1921, then a larger one in 1930.

In the 2006 census, 32 per cent of the population were Māori.

Marae

Taupiri Maraeis located in Taupiri. It is a meeting ground for theWaikato Tainuihapū ofNgāti Kuiaarangi,Ngāti Mahuta,Ngāti TaiandNgāti Whāwhākia,and includes thePani OraandTe Puna Tangatameeting houses.

Education

Taupiri School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,with a roll of 99 as of February 2024.