Frasertown is a small settlement in the northern Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's eastern North Island.

Frasertown
Map
Coordinates: 38°58′S 177°24′E / 38.967°S 177.400°E / -38.967; 177.400
CountryNew Zealand
RegionHawke's Bay
Territorial authorityWairoa District
Ward
  • Wairoa General Ward
  • Wairoa Māori Ward
Electorates
Area
 • Total1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total270
 • Density200/km2 (510/sq mi)

It is located inland from Wairoa at the junction of SH38, and the inland route (the Tiniroto Road; the former SH36) to Gisborne. State Highway 38 leads from Wai-O-Tapu via Murupara, The Ureweras, Lake Waikaremoana and Frasertown to Wairoa. It gives a short, but (partly) unsealed, winding and climbing connection to the Central North Island Rotorua. It is named for Major James Fraser, who led military forces in Wairoa in the 1860s.[3][4]

Demographics edit

Statistics New Zealand describes Frasertown as a rural settlement, which covers 1.36 km2 (0.53 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 270 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 199 people per km2. It is part of the larger Frasertown-Ruakituri statistical area.

Historical population for Frasertown
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006252—    
2013213−2.37%
2018255+3.66%
Source: [5]

Frasertown had a population of 255 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (19.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 3 people (1.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 93 households, comprising 120 males and 138 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.87 males per female, with 57 people (22.4%) aged under 15 years, 42 (16.5%) aged 15 to 29, 102 (40.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 54 (21.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 54.1% European/Pākehā, 56.5% Māori, 2.4% Pacific peoples, 1.2% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 34.1% had no religion, 37.6% were Christian, 22.4% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (10.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 54 (27.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 21 people (10.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 81 (40.9%) people were employed full-time, 36 (18.2%) were part-time, and 12 (6.1%) were unemployed.[5]

Frasertown-Ruakituri statistical area edit

Frasertown-Ruakituri statistical area, which also includes Ohuka and Ruakituri, covers 1,333.71 km2 (514.95 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 940 as of June 2023,[6] with a population density of 0.70 people per km2.

Historical population of Frasertown-Ruakituri
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006927—    
2013861−1.05%
2018861+0.00%
Source: [7]

Frasertown-Ruakituri had a population of 861 at the 2018 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 66 people (−7.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 324 households, comprising 444 males and 420 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 39.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 192 people (22.3%) aged under 15 years, 153 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 369 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 147 (17.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.3% European/Pākehā, 45.6% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 0.3% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 4.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 44.6% had no religion, 38.0% were Christian, 10.8% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 72 (10.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (24.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 75 people (11.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 342 (51.1%) people were employed full-time, 123 (18.4%) were part-time, and 18 (2.7%) were unemployed.[7]

Marae edit

The township includes a number of marae (meeting grounds) and wharenui (meeting houses) for the local iwi (tribe) of Ngāti Kahungunu and its hapū (sub-tribes):[8][9]

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,949,075 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade all four marae and 20 other Ngāti Kahungunu marae, creating 164 jobs.[10]

Education edit

Frasertown School is a Year 1–6 co-educational state primary school.[11] It is a decile 4 school with a roll of 120 as of February 2024.[12][13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2023 (2023 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023. (urban areas)
  3. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Wairoa". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Major James Fraser | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7015759 and 7015760.
  6. ^ "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Frasertown-Ruakituri (207600). 2018 Census place summary: Frasertown-Ruakituri
  8. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  9. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  10. ^ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  12. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.