Tokomaru, New Zealand

Tokomaru is a small town in the district of Horowhenua, in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand. It is located 18 kilometres southwest of Palmerston North, and a similar distance northeast of Shannon. The Tokomaru railway station on the North Island Main Trunk was open from 1885 to 1982.

For other uses, see Tokomaru (disambiguation).

Tokomaru
Rural settlement
Tokomaru Store
Tokomaru Store
Coordinates: 40.472°S 175.509°E / -40.472; 175.509
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui region
Territorial authorityHorowhenua District
WardMiranui
Area
[1]
 • Total2.54 km2 (0.98 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total534
 • Density210/km2 (540/sq mi)

The Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum features a collection of antique steam engine machinery, much of it still operational. The collection includes a 1904 Fowler traction engine, an 1897 Aveling & Porter portable engine and a huge 335 hp Filer & Stowell stationary engine-compressor ex the Imlay Freezing Works, Wanganui. The museum is open by appointment.[3]

Tokomaru has two public reserves, the Tokomaru Domain, which includes a sports field and hall, and Horseshoe Bend reserve.[4]

The town has a locally run combined store and post office.

There are two factories on the outskirts of Tokomaru. One, Stevensons Construction, is still operational and employs many Tokomaru residents. The other is a former dairy factory that is in the process of being renovated.[5]

Demographics

Tokomaru is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement and covers 2.54 km2 (0.98 sq mi). It is part of the wider Miranui statistical area, which covers 297.07 km2 (114.70 sq mi).[1]

The population of Tokomaru was 534 in the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 48 (9.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 75 (16.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 264 males and 267 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. Ethnicities were 447 people (83.7%) European/Pākehā, 144 (27.0%) Māori, 21 (3.9%) Pacific peoples, and 15 (2.8%) Asian (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Of the total population, 147 people (27.5%) were under 15 years old, 87 (16.3%) were 15–29, 237 (44.4%) were 30–64, and 57 (10.7%) were over 65.[2]

Miranui

Miranui statistical area, which surrounds but does not include Shannon, and includes Mangaore, has an estimated population of 1,990 as of June 2022,[6] with a population density of 6.70 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,533—    
20131,587+0.50%
20181,788+2.41%
Source: [7]

Miranui had a population of 1,788 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 201 people (12.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 255 people (16.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 633 households. There were 909 males and 882 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 474 people (26.5%) aged under 15 years, 303 (16.9%) aged 15 to 29, 828 (46.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 189 (10.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.1% European/Pākehā, 19.3% Māori, 3.4% Pacific peoples, 3.9% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 10.2%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.2% had no religion, 32.2% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 213 (16.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 276 (21.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 759 (57.8%) people were employed full-time, 180 (13.7%) were part-time, and 42 (3.2%) were unemployed.[7]

Education

Tokomaru School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[8][9] with a roll of 80 as of February 2023.[10]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  2. "Age and sex by ethnic group (grouped total response), for census usually resident population counts, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (urban rural areas)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  3. "Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum". tokomarusteam.com.
  4. "Tokomaru Reserves". Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. "The ebb and flow of a rural township: Tokomaru". 4 November 2011.
  6. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Miranui (234600). 2018 Census place summary: Miranui
  8. "Official School Website". tokomaru.school.nz.
  9. "Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  10. "Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
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