Kuratau
Settlement in Waikato, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kuratau is a small village north of Omori and south of Whareroa Village, on the western side of New Zealand's Lake Taupō.[6]
Kuratau | |
|---|---|
Rural settlement | |
Kuratau Beach | |
 Interactive map of Kuratau | |
| Coordinates: 38.893347°S 175.769783°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato region |
| District | Taupō District |
| Ward | Turangi-Tongariro General Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Taupō District Council |
| • Regional council | Waikato Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Taupō | John Funnell[1] |
| • Taupō MP | Louise Upston[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.50 km2 (1.74 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 110 |
| • Density | 24/km2 (63/sq mi) |
The Kuratau Power Station was built on the Kuratau River near the town and completed in 1962.
Lake Taupō is eroding Kuratau's foreshore at an increasing rate.[7]
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Kuratau as a rural settlement, which covers 4.50 km2 (1.74 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 24 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupō Bays statistical area.[8]
Kuratau had a population of 105 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (12.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 12 people (12.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 54 males and 48 females in 81 dwellings.[11] The median age was 63.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 6 people (5.7%) aged under 15 years, 9 (8.6%) aged 15 to 29, 45 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (45.7%) aged 65 or older.[9]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 97.1% European (Pākehā), 14.3% Māori, and 2.9% Asian. English was spoken by 97.1%, and other languages by 5.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 2.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[9]
Religious affiliations were 31.4% Christian, and 2.9% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 48.6%, and 17.1% of people did not answer the census question.[9]
Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (24.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 60 (60.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 15 (15.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (6.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 33 (33.3%) full-time, 15 (15.2%) part-time, and 3 (3.0%) unemployed.[9]
Marae
The local Poukura Marae and Parekawa meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Parekāwa.[12][13]
Education
Kuratau School is a co-educational state primary school,[14][15] with a roll of 95 as of October 2025.[16][17] Two schools opened at Hauia and Otaranga in the early 1940s and lasted for a few years. Schools at Moerangi and Rotomoho closed in 1957, when Kuratau School opened. Kuratau School was formally opened on 23 April 1958.[18]