Pukehangi
Suburb of Rotorua, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pukehangi is a western suburb of Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.
Pukehangi | |
|---|---|
Susan Street | |
 Interactive map of Pukehangi | |
| Coordinates: 38.136306°S 176.207755°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| City | Rotorua |
| Local authority | Rotorua Lakes Council |
| Electoral ward | Te Ipu Wai Auraki General Ward |
| Area | |
| • Land | 229 ha (570 acres) |
| Population (June 2025)[2] | |
• Total | 5,460 |
| • Density | 2,380/km2 (6,180/sq mi) |
| Western Heights | ||
| Ngongotahā Valley |
  Pukehangi  |
Mangakakahi |
| Fordlands | Sunnybrook |
History
In 2017, Rotorua District Council identified Pukehangi as a key area for future residential development.[3] An 89-section subdivision and a 33-section subdivision were both announced that year.[4] More sections were due to become available in 2019.[5]
In December 2018, landowners of farmland west of the suburb sought planning consent to develop new residential areas.[6] The plan change was approved by the Rotorua District Council and Ministry for the Environment during 2019.[7][8] It was opened up it to public submissions in January 2020.[8]
In 2019, a Pukehangi rental home was the subject of a 7-month legal dispute between a landlord and tenant, which ended with the High Court terminating the tenancy.[9]
In 2023, Kāinga Ora was developing 60 new state houses on three sites in Pukehangi.[10]
Demographics
Pukehangi covers 2.29 km2 (0.88 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 5,460 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 2,384 people per km2.
Pukehangi had a population of 5,178 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 96 people (−1.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 294 people (6.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,499 males, 2,667 females, and 12 people of other genders in 1,677 dwellings.[13] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,224 people (23.6%) aged under 15 years, 1,008 (19.5%) aged 15 to 29, 2,208 (42.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 738 (14.3%) aged 65 or older.[11]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 62.2% European (Pākehā); 47.1% Māori; 8.0% Pasifika; 8.5% Asian; 0.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.8%, Māori by 13.2%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 9.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]
Religious affiliations were 29.7% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 2.7% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.7%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.[11]
Of those at least 15 years old, 657 (16.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,262 (57.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,035 (26.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $38,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 288 people (7.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 2,058 (52.0%) full-time, 495 (12.5%) part-time, and 186 (4.7%) unemployed.[11]