Mōtū

Mōtū locality covers 986.00 km² (380.70 sq mi).^[4] It is part of the Waipaoa statistical area.^[7]

Mōtū had a population of 132 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (2.3%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 18 people (−12.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 78 males and 57 females in 60 dwellings.^[9] The median age was 34.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 24 people (18.2%) aged under 15 years, 30 (22.7%) aged 15 to 29, 63 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 12 (9.1%) aged 65 or older.^[5]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.5% European (Pākehā), and 36.4% Māori. English was spoken by 97.7%, and Māori by 4.5%. No language could be spoken by 4.5% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 6.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[5]

Religious affiliations were 27.3% Christian, and 2.3% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.9%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[5]

Of those at least 15 years old, 15 (13.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 75 (69.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 21 (19.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 63 (58.3%) full-time and 15 (13.9%) part-time.^[5]

Motu School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school^[10] with a roll of 7 students as of October 2025.^[11][12] The school opened in 1895 in the kitchen of an accommodation house. It moved to its own premises in 1902, and moved again to its current location in 1955.^[13]

Mōtū has mild summers and frosty winters, with an average of 8 days rising above 25 °C (77 °F) and 43 nights dropping below 0 °C (32 °F).^[14]