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Uruti

Coordinates: 38°56′40″S 174°31′42″E / 38.94444°S 174.52833°E / -38.94444; 174.52833
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Uruti
The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township
The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township
Map
Coordinates: 38°56′40″S 174°31′42″E / 38.94444°S 174.52833°E / -38.94444; 174.52833
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki Region
Territorial authorityNew Plymouth District
Ward
  • North General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
CommunityClifton Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityNew Plymouth District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council
 • Mayor of New PlymouthMax Brough[1]
 • Taranaki-King Country MPBarbara Kuriger[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
271.07 km2 (104.66 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[5]
 • Total
135
 • Density0.498/km2 (1.29/sq mi)

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]

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

[edit]

Uruti locality covers 271.07 km2 (104.66 sq mi).[4] The locality is part of the Mount Messenger statistical area.[13]

Historical population for Uruti locality
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006126—    
2013132+0.67%
2018120−1.89%
2023135+2.38%
Source: [5][14]

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

[edit]

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.

Historical population for Mount Messenger
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006756—    
2013822+1.20%
2018864+1.00%
2023972+2.38%
Source: [18][19]

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]

Education

[edit]

Uruti School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 6 students as of July 2025.[21][22] The school celebrated its centennial in 1998.[23]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Declaration of Results of Election and Poll" (PDF). New Plymouth District Council. 17 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Taranaki-King Country - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7016785. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 35. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 74. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. ^ Maclean, Hester (1932). "XVI. Back-Block District Nursing". Nursing in New Zealand: History and Reminiscences. pp. 86–87.
  9. ^ "MACLEAN, Hester, R.R.C.". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  10. ^ Bartle, Rhonda (17 February 2005). "Road Tunnels of Taranaki". Puke Ariki. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  11. ^ "Vigil film set". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  12. ^ "The Last Samurai New Zealand Film Location". Tourism New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  13. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  14. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7016785.
  15. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Mount Messenger (219200). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Mount Messenger (219200). 2018 Census place summary: Mount Messenger
  20. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  21. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  22. ^ Education Counts: Uruti School
  23. ^ "Jubilees & reunions: Uruti School". Education Gazette New Zealand. 75 (17). 30 September 1996. Archived from the original on 7 July 2001.

Further reading

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General historical works

[edit]
  • Brooks, Glenwyss (comp.) (1995). How green was our valley: collected memories of Uruti. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Aries Print. ISBN 0-473-02685-6.

Business

[edit]
  • 1904-1954, golden jubilee / with the compliments of the Uruti Valley Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Avery Print. 1954.

Schools

[edit]
  • Uruti School 60th jubilee: in conjunction with Messenger, Musker’s, Pehu: 16th-18th May 1958. Uruti, [N.Z.]; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee, 1958; Taranaki Daily News Co. Ltd. 1958.
  • Wilson, Christine; Brooks, Glenwyss (comps.). Uruti School, 1898-1998: in celebration of 100 years. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Uruti School Centennial Committee. ISBN 0473059207.
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