Te Mahoe
Rural settlement in Bay of Plenty Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Te Mahoe is a rural settlement in the Whakatāne District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island, next to Lake Matahina.
Te Mahoe | |
|---|---|
Rural settlement | |
 Interactive map of Te Mahoe | |
| Coordinates: 38.109°S 176.816°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
| Ward | Rangitāiki General Ward |
| Community | Rangitāiki Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Whakatāne District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whakatāne | Nándor Tánczos[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.30 km2 (3.59 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 96 |
| • Density | 10/km2 (27/sq mi) |
In 2018, the larger community consisted of about 150 people,[6] including 30 families in the village at the base of the Lake Matahina Dam.[7] Locals describe the community as close-knit and centred around the local school.[8]
History
Hone Tuwhare
Poet Hone Tuwhare lived in Te Mahoe during the 1950s and 1960s with his wife, writer Jean McCormack, and their three sons.[9] He worked as a boiler-maker on the construction of the Matahina hydroelectric dam.[10]
In 1962, the Whakatane Beacon newspaper published one of Tuwhare's poems. It began:
- Up at the dam site, at Te Mahoe,
among the clatter of pneumatic drills,
the settling dust and the raw earth,
a man is writing poetry.[10]
- Up at the dam site, at Te Mahoe,
His first book was published two years later, in 1964, to immediate critical acclaim.[11]
Cyclone Cook
The area was affected by Cyclone Cook in April 2017. The school was closed for several days.[12] A boil water notice was issued for residents due to sediment from floodwaters contaminating water supplies.[13]
Demographics
Te Mahoe covers 9.30 km2 (3.59 sq mi).[4] It is part of the Te Teko Lakes statistical area.[14]
Te Mahoe had a population of 96 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (14.3%) since the 2018 census, and unchanged since the 2013 census. There were 45 males and 51 females in 24 dwellings.[16] The median age was 25.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 30 people (31.2%) aged under 15 years, 24 (25.0%) aged 15 to 29, 36 (37.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 9 (9.4%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 21.9% European (Pākehā), 100.0% Māori, 3.1% Pasifika, and 9.4% Asian. English was spoken by 90.6%, Māori by 37.5%, and other languages by 3.1%. No language could be spoken by 6.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 3.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
Religious affiliations were 9.4% Christian, and 34.4% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 46.9%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (13.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 36 (54.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 24 (36.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 33 (50.0%) full-time, 9 (13.6%) part-time, and 6 (9.1%) unemployed.[5]