Tawhero is a suburb of Whanganui, in the Whanganui District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island.

Tawhero
Map
Interactive map of Tawhero
Coordinates: 39°56′11″S 175°00′57″E / 39.936363°S 175.015738°E / -39.936363; 175.015738
CountryNew Zealand
CityWhanganui
Local authorityWhanganui District Council
Area
  Land164 ha (410 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)[2]
  Total
3,200
  Density2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi)
Springvale College Estate
Castlecliff
Tawhero
Gonville
Castlecliff Gonville

The name can mean the tōwai or kāmahi trees.[3]

Demographics

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Titoki statistical area, which corresponds to Tawhero, covers 1.64 km2 (0.63 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,200 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,951 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,721    
20132,472−1.36%
20182,841+2.82%
20233,066+1.54%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 1.92 km2.
Source: [4][5]

Titoki had a population of 3,066 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 225 people (7.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 594 people (24.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,497 males, 1,563 females, and 6 people of other genders in 1,128 dwellings.[6] 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 681 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 534 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,257 (41.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 597 (19.5%) aged 65 or older.[4]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 66.5% European (Pākehā); 38.7% Māori; 7.6% Pasifika; 6.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.6%, Māori by 11.4%, Samoan by 1.9%, and other languages by 6.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]

Religious affiliations were 29.8% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 5.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.3%, and 9.2% of people did not answer the census question.[4]

Of those at least 15 years old, 261 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,353 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 774 (32.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $31,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 84 people (3.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 981 (41.1%) full-time, 270 (11.3%) part-time, and 96 (4.0%) unemployed.[4]

Education

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Tawhero School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[7] with a roll of 161.[8] Some students are taught in the Māori language.[7] It opened in 1926.[9]

St Marcellin School is a state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[10][11] with a roll of 46.[12] It began as an intermediate school (Years 7 and 8). When St Anthony's Primary School in Gonville closed in 1983, it became a full primary school.[13]

Te Kura Waenga o Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate School is a state intermediate school,[14] with a roll of 140.[15] It has also been called Rutherford Junior High School. It opened in 1963.[16]

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of March 2026.[17]

References

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  1. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. Moorfield, John C. "tawhero". Te Aka Māori Dictionary. Te Murumāra Foundation. The dictionary uses the former botanical name Weinmannia.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Titoki (224301). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Titoki (224300). 2018 Census place summary: Titoki
  6. "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.
  7. 1 2 "Tawhero School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  8. "Tawhero School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  9. Golden Jubilee Committee (1976). "50th jubilee souvenir booklet, 1926-1976".
  10. "St Marcellin School Official School Website". stmarcellin.school.nz.
  11. "St Marcellin School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  12. "St Marcellin School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  13. "Our History". St Marcellin School. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  14. "Te Kura Waenga o Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  15. "Te Kura Waenga o Rutherford | Rutherford Intermediate School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  16. Mateparae, Jerry (29 October 2013). "Rutherford Junior High School 50th Jubilee". Office of the Governor-General.
  17. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.