Pounawea
Place in Otago, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pounawea is a small town in The Catlins, an area of the southern South Island of New Zealand. It is located four kilometres southwest of Owaka, at the mouth of the Catlins River.[5] It is a popular holiday spot with a seasonal population, there are numerous cribs (holiday homes) at the settlement.
- Southland
- Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Pounawea | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Pounawea | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Otago |
| District | Clutha District |
| Ward | Catlins |
| Electorates |
|
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Clutha District Council |
| • Regional council | Otago Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Clutha | Jock Martin[1] |
| • Southland MP | Joseph Mooney |
| • Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.37 km2 (0.14 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[4] | |
• Total | 120 |
| • Density | 320/km2 (840/sq mi) |
Demographics
Pounawea is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.37 km2 (0.14 sq mi),[3] and had an estimated population of 120 as of June 2025,[4] with a population density of 324 people per km2. It is part of the much larger Catlins statistical area.[6]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 54 | — |
| 2013 | 63 | +2.23% |
| 2018 | 51 | −4.14% |
| Source: [7] | ||
Pounawea had a population of 51 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 12 people (−19.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 3 people (−5.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 24 households, comprising 24 males and 30 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.8 males per female. The median age was 55.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6 people (11.8%) aged under 15 years, 3 (5.9%) aged 15 to 29, 30 (58.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (29.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 94.1% European/Pākehā, 5.9% Māori, 5.9% Pasifika, 5.9% Asian, and 5.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.8% had no religion, 41.2% were Christian, and 5.9% were Buddhist.
Of those at least 15 years old, 3 (6.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 9 (20.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6 people (13.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 24 (53.3%) people were employed full-time, and 6 (13.3%) were part-time.[7]
