Kapiro

The Kapiro block was a designated Kauri gum reserve after 1898^[6] to restrict the harvesting of gum.^[7] The gum was depleted by 1919, and suggestions were made to use the land for settlement of returning soldiers from World War I,^[8] or planting trees on it.^[9] The land was covered with a noxious weed, hakea.^[10]

An experimental farm was established in the late 1920s.^[11][12] This was not promising at first,^[13] but by the mid 1940s the experiment was much more successful.^[14] Kapiro became a rich dairying area.^[15]

A vineyard was established from 2007.^[16]

The SA1 statistical area which includes Kapiro covers 2.35 km² (0.91 sq mi).^[4] The SA1 area is part of the larger Lake Manuwai-Kapiro statistical area.

The SA1 statistical area had a population of 162 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (3.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 6 people (3.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 78 males and 84 females in 63 dwellings.^[17] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 53.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 21 people (13.0%) aged under 15 years, 24 (14.8%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (27.8%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.0% European (Pākehā), 14.8% Māori, and 1.9% Asian. English was spoken by 98.1%, Māori language by 1.9%, and other languages by 3.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 20.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 25.9% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 68.5%, and 3.7% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (21.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 75 (53.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (23.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (8.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 69 (48.9%) people were employed full-time, 15 (10.6%) were part-time, and 3 (2.1%) were unemployed.^[5]

The statistical area of Lake Manuwai-Kapiro, which includes the area around Lake Manuwai, covers 58.85 km² (22.72 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 2,430 as of June 2025,^[18] with a population density of 41 people per km².

Lake Manuwai-Kapiro had a population of 2,322 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 189 people (8.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 426 people (22.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,152 males and 1,170 females in 825 dwellings.^[21] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 438 people (18.9%) aged under 15 years, 336 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 1,083 (46.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 462 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.^[20]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.9% European (Pākehā); 19.9% Māori; 4.0% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori language by 3.0%, and other languages by 8.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 23.0% Christian, 0.1% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% Buddhist, 0.1% New Age, and 2.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.7%, and 8.3% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 309 (16.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,038 (55.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 435 (23.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 159 people (8.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 912 (48.4%) people were employed full-time, 288 (15.3%) were part-time, and 54 (2.9%) were unemployed.^[20]