Te Kaha

The township is in the rohe (tribal area) of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. It has four marae, affiliated with local hapū:^[7][8]

• Te Kaha Marae and Tūkākī meeting house, is affiliated with Te Whānau a Te Ēhutu.
• Maungaroa Marae and Kaiaio meeting house, is affiliated with Te Whānau a Kaiaio.
• Pāhāōa Marae and Kahurautao meeting house, is affiliated with Te Whānau a Kahurautao.
• Waiōrore Marae and Toihau meeting house, is affiliated with Te Whānau a Toihau / Hinetekahu.

In October 2020, the Government committed $497,610 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the Pāhāōa Marae, creating 14 jobs. It also committed $1,646,820 upgrade a cluster of 6 marae, including Maungaroa Marae, creating 10 jobs.^[9]

Statistics New Zealand describes Te Kaha as a rural settlement, which covers 16.17 km² (6.24 sq mi).^[4] It had an estimated population of 390 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 24 people per km². It is part of the larger Cape Runaway statistical area.^[10]

Te Kaha had a population of 378 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (15.6%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 9 people (−2.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 180 males and 195 females in 153 dwellings.^[13] 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 75 people (19.8%) aged under 15 years, 57 (15.1%) aged 15 to 29, 165 (43.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 81 (21.4%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 34.9% European (Pākehā), 85.7% Māori, 4.0% Pasifika, and 1.6% Asian. English was spoken by 95.2%, Māori by 42.9%, and other languages by 1.6%. No language could be spoken by 0.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[11]

Religious affiliations were 36.5% Christian, 15.9% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.6% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 38.9%, and 7.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (6.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 186 (61.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 87 (28.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $28,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 12 people (4.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 126 (41.6%) full-time, 27 (8.9%) part-time, and 21 (6.9%) unemployed.^[11]

Te Kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui is a coeducational composite (years 1–13) school with a roll of 197 students as of October 2025.^[14][15] The school opened in 2016 to replace three East Cape schools:^[16] Whānau-ā-Apanui Area School (opened in 1875 as Te Kaha School), Raukōkore School (opened in 1887) and Te Kura o Ōmaio (opened in 1871).^[17] Te Kura o Te Whānau-a-Apanui started on the site of the previous school in Omaio while premises were built in Te Kaha^[18] and moved to the new site by 2023.^[19]

• Corporal Willie Apiata, recipient of the New Zealand Victoria Cross, awarded on 2 July 2007
• Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, recipient of the VC, awarded posthumously in October 1943
• Taika Waititi, Filmmaker, actor, comedian