Poraiti
Suburb of Napier, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Poraiti is a suburb on the western outskirts of the city of Napier, in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's eastern North Island.[3] For a long time it was a semi-rural locality on low hills, but has now been extended to include a new residential subdivision developed on the plain in the 2000s.
Poraiti | |
|---|---|
Sunset over Poraiti Hills | |
 Interactive map of Poraiti | |
| Coordinates: 39.504273°S 176.843913°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Napier |
| Local authority | Napier City Council |
| Electoral ward | Taradale Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 1,766 ha (4,360 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 2,450 |
| • Density | 139/km2 (359/sq mi) |
| Puketapu | Bay View | Westshore |
  Poraiti  |
Onekawa | |
| Taradale | Tamatea |
History
Te Poraiti, also known as Pa Poto, was a Māori pā belonging to Ngāti Hinepare on a small headland near the shore of Ahuriri Lagoon. In the 19th century, chiefs Rawiri Tareahi and his son Porokoru Mapu lived there.[4]
For a long period of modern history Poraiti was a semi-rural locality on low hills west of Napier. It was part of Hawke's Bay County until the 1989 New Zealand local government reforms, when it became part of Napier City.[5][6]
When a new residential subdivision was developed on the former Lagoon Farm, west of Tamatea, in the 2000s, there was a debate over whether it should be named Parklands or Orotu. Napier City Council settled the debate in 2008 by including the subdivision in Poraiti.[7] That area is now known as Poraiti Flat, while the old Poraiti has become known as Poraiti Hills.
Demographics
Poraiti covers 17.66 km2 (6.82 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,450 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 139 people per km2.
Poraiti had a population of 2,349 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 336 people (16.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 888 people (60.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,152 males, 1,188 females, and 3 people of other genders in 906 dwellings.[10] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 51.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 327 people (13.9%) aged under 15 years, 297 (12.6%) aged 15 to 29, 1,065 (45.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 660 (28.1%) aged 65 or older.[8]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.9% European (Pākehā); 9.3% Māori; 1.1% Pasifika; 7.0% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori by 1.3%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 8.6%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[8]
Religious affiliations were 36.5% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 1.9% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.7%, and 7.5% of people did not answer the census question.[8]
Of those at least 15 years old, 486 (24.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,113 (55.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 426 (21.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 342 people (16.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 948 (46.9%) full-time, 270 (13.4%) part-time, and 27 (1.3%) unemployed.[8]