Manawahe statistical area covers 267.00 km2 (103.09 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 1,240 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 4.6 people per km2.
Historical population| Year | | |
|---|
| 2006 | 822 | — |
|---|
| 2013 | 888 | +1.11% |
|---|
| 2018 | 996 | +2.32% |
|---|
| 2023 | 1,209 | +3.95% |
|---|
| Source: [7][8] |
Manawahe had a population of 1,209 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 213 people (21.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 321 people (36.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 618 males and 594 females in 477 dwellings.[9] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 48.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 213 people (17.6%) aged under 15 years, 144 (11.9%) aged 15 to 29, 612 (50.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 243 (20.1%) aged 65 or older.[7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 83.6% European (Pākehā); 25.3% Māori; 1.7% Pasifika; 2.0% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 5.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 5.7%, and other languages by 5.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]
Religious affiliations were 24.1% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 1.0% New Age, and 0.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.[7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 186 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 588 (59.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 219 (22.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 129 people (13.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 495 (49.7%) full-time, 180 (18.1%) part-time, and 30 (3.0%) unemployed.[7]
