Arapuni

The local Pōhara Marae is a meeting ground of the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Korokī and Ngāti Mahuta, the Ngāti Korokī Kahukura hapū of Ngāti Hourua, and the Waikato Tainui hapū of Ngāti Korokī and Ngāti Raukawa ki Panehākua.^[11]

It features the Rangiātea meeting house.^[12]

In October 2020, the Government committed $2,584,751 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae and 5 other Waikato Tainui marae, creating 69 jobs.^[13]

Statistics New Zealand describes Arapuni as a rural settlement, which covers 1.83 km² (0.71 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 330 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 180 people per km². The settlement is part of the larger Putāruru Rural statistical area.^[14]

Arapuni had a population of 324 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (11.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 87 people (36.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 150 males and 177 females in 141 dwellings.^[17] 0.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 63 people (19.4%) aged under 15 years, 39 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 159 (49.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (19.4%) aged 65 or older.^[15]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.9% European (Pākehā); 20.4% Māori; 5.6% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 1.9% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 5.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 4.6%, and other languages by 4.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 19.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[15]

Religious affiliations were 21.3% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 1.9% Buddhist, 0.9% New Age, 0.9% Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.3%, and 15.7% of people did not answer the census question.^[15]

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (17.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 156 (59.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (21.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (6.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 138 (52.9%) full-time, 27 (10.3%) part-time, and 6 (2.3%) unemployed.^[15]