Uruti
Settlement in Taranaki, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Uruti is a locality in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3, north-east of Mimi and south-west of Ahititi. The Uruti Stream meets the Mimi River at this point. The river flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.[6][7]
Uruti | |
|---|---|
The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township | |
 Interactive map of Uruti | |
| Coordinates: 38°56′40″S 174°31′42″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Taranaki Region |
| Territorial authority | New Plymouth District |
| Ward |
|
| Community | Clifton Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | New Plymouth District Council |
| • Regional council | Taranaki Regional Council |
| • Mayor of New Plymouth | Max Brough[1] |
| • Taranaki-King Country MP | Barbara Kuriger[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 271.07 km2 (104.66 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census)[5] | |
• Total | 135 |
| • Density | 0.498/km2 (1.29/sq mi) |
A district nurse was appointed to serve the backblocks of the Uruti Valley in 1909. This was the first district nursing service in New Zealand.[8][9]
The Uruti tunnel links the Uruti Valley with the main highway. It was completed in 1923 and is the longest and most unstable tunnel in Taranaki.[10]
The 1984 film Vigil was filmed at Uruti.[11] Much of the 2003 film The Last Samurai was filmed in the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki/Egmont standing in for Mount Fuji.[12]
Demographics
Uruti locality covers 271.07 km2 (104.66 sq mi).[4] The locality is part of the Mount Messenger statistical area.[13]
Uruti had a population of 135 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (12.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3 people (2.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 75 males and 60 females in 51 dwellings.[15] The median age was 37.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 33 people (24.4%) aged under 15 years, 24 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 63 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (11.1%) aged 65 or older.[5]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.9% European (Pākehā); 22.2% Māori; 2.2% Asian; 2.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 13.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 4.4%, and other languages by 4.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 6.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.[5]
The only religious affiliation given was 15.6% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 66.7%, and 17.8% of people did not answer the census question.[5]
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (17.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 57 (55.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 27 (26.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (8.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 63 (61.8%) full-time, 15 (14.7%) part-time, and 3 (2.9%) unemployed.[5]
Mount Messenger statistical area
Mount Messenger statistical area, which includes the localities of Mimi, Uruti, Ahititi and Tongapōrutu, covers 934.28 km2 (360.73 sq mi)[16] and had an estimated population of 1,000 as of June 2025,[17] with a population density of 1.1 people per km2.
Mount Messenger had a population of 972 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 108 people (12.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 150 people (18.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 504 males, 462 females, and 3 people of other genders in 384 dwellings.[20] 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.2 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 216 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 135 (13.9%) aged 15 to 29, 450 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 174 (17.9%) aged 65 or older.[18]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 88.9% European (Pākehā), 23.1% Māori, 0.6% Pasifika, 1.2% Asian, and 4.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori by 3.1%, and other languages by 3.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.[18]
Religious affiliations were 24.1% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.6% Māori religious beliefs, and 0.3% New Age. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 9.6% of people did not answer the census question.[18]
Of those at least 15 years old, 120 (15.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 441 (58.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 192 (25.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $36,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 57 people (7.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 372 (49.2%) full-time, 135 (17.9%) part-time, and 18 (2.4%) unemployed.[18]