Wikipedia

Urenui

Urenui is a settlement in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3 close to the shore of the North Taranaki Bight, 13 kilometres east of Waitara and 6 km south-west of Mimi. The Urenui River flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.[5][6]

Urenui
Map
Interactive map of Urenui
Coordinates: 39°00′S 174°23′E / 39.000°S 174.383°E / -39.000; 174.383
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
 • Taranaki-King Country MPBarbara Kuriger[1]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[2]
Area
[3]
 • Total
3.65 km2 (1.41 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[4]
 • Total
460
 • Density130/km2 (330/sq mi)

Etymology

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The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "great courage" for Urenui, noting that courage is "a figurative expression".[7] A fuller explanation is that the name was given by Manaia in honour of his well-endowed son. Ure means "penis", and nui means "large".[8][9]

History

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The town was the site of the Urenui Redoubt, created in winter 1865 during the Second Taranaki War. Originally envisioned as a settlement for Māori loyal to the colonial government, however by 1866 it was decided that the town should be a settlement for soldiers.[10]

Demographics

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Urenui is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 3.65 km2 (1.41 sq mi).[3] It had an estimated population of 460 as of June 2025,[4] with a population density of 126 people per km2. It is part of the larger Tikorangi statistical area,[11] which covers 167.79 km2 (64.78 sq mi).[3]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006429—    
2013429+0.00%
2018411−0.85%
2023447+1.69%
Source: [12][13]

Urenui had a population of 447 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (8.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 18 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 222 males and 225 females in 204 dwellings.[14] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 72 people (16.1%) aged under 15 years, 51 (11.4%) aged 15 to 29, 201 (45.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 123 (27.5%) aged 65 or older.[12]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.9% European (Pākehā), 28.2% Māori, 1.3% Pasifika, 0.7% Asian, and 1.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori by 6.0%, and other languages by 1.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 8.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]

Religious affiliations were 27.5% Christian, 0.7% New Age, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.7%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.[12]

Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (12.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 231 (61.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 93 (24.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 36 people (9.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 174 (46.4%) full-time, 57 (15.2%) part-time, and 6 (1.6%) unemployed.[12]

Marae

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Urenui beach

Urenui Marae, located about 3 kilometres from the town, is the only remaining marae of Ngāti Mutunga. It includes Te Aroha meeting house.[15][16]

In October 2020, the Government committed $363,060 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating 21 jobs.[17]

Education

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Urenui School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 94 students as of March 2026.[18][19] The school was founded in 1876 and celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2001.[20]

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Taranaki-King Country - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  5. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, pp. map 35, ISBN 978-0-7900-0952-0
  6. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, pp. map 74, ISBN 978-1-877333-20-0
  7. ↑ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  8. ↑ Discover New Zealand:A Wises Guide (9th ed.). 1994. p. 217.
  9. ↑ O'Regan, Stephen (2004). "Maori control of the Maori heritage". In Gathercole, Peter; Lowenthal, David (eds.). The Politics of the Past. London and New York: Routledge. p. 98.
  10. ↑ Prickett, Nigel (1999). "British Army and Colonial Fortifications in North Taranaki, 1865–69". Papahou: Records of the Auckland Museum. 36: 5–58. ISSN 1174-9202. JSTOR 42905837. Wikidata Q58623315.
  11. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  12. 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. Urenui (1312). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017185, 7017187 and 7017188.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  16. ↑ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  17. ↑ "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  19. ↑ "Urenui School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  20. ↑ "Jubilees & reunions: Urenui School", Education Gazette New Zealand, 79 (12), 30 June 2000, archived from the original on 27 May 2002

Further reading

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  • Messenger, A. H.; Andrews, Edward Rolfe (1956), Urenui School 80th jubilee, 1876–1956: souvenir booklet, history of school and district, 1st and 2nd April, 1956, Urenui, [N.Z.]; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Urenui School; Taranaki Herald
  • Buist, Alastair Gordon (1964), Archaeology in North Taranaki, New Zealand a study of field monuments in the Pukearuhe – Mimi-Urenui area, Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Archaeological Association
  • Gumbley, Warren (1997), Archaeological mapping of pa in four Taranaki historic reserves, Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation
  • de Jardine, Margaret (1992), The little ports of Taranaki: being Awakino, Mokau, Tongaporutu, Urenui, Waitara, Opunake, Patea, together with some historical background to each, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Margaret de Jardine
  • The history of Urenui: arrival of the first Maoris, New Plymouth, NZ: Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1930
  • Buist, Alastair Gordon (1964), Archaeology in North Taranaki, New Zealand a study of field monuments in the Pukearuhe – Mimi-Urenui area, Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Archaeological Association
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