Pongakawa

Pongakawa is a rural community in the Bay of Plenty of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 2 runs through it.

The name of the settlement comes from Māori terms meaning "Bitter ferns".

Demographics

Pongakawa community covers 52.20 km2 (20.15 sq mi). It is part of the larger Pongakawa statistical area.

The community had a population of 459 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (6.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 42 people (10.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 252 males and 210 females in 153 dwellings. 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 105 people (22.9%) aged under 15 years, 78 (17.0%) aged 15 to 29, 219 (47.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 57 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.5% European (Pākehā); 22.2% Māori; 0.7% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.7%, Māori by 3.3%, and other languages by 6.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 11.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 22.9% Christian, 1.3% Māori religious beliefs, and 3.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.7%, and 9.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (16.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 210 (59.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 84 (23.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 48 people (13.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 210 (59.3%) full-time, 81 (22.9%) part-time, and 3 (0.8%) unemployed.

Pongakawa statistical area

Pongakawa statistical area, which also includes Paengaroa and Otamarakau, covers 389.03 km2 (150.21 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,510 as of June 2025, with a population density of 9.0 people per km2.

Pongakawa statistical area had a population of 3,261 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 180 people (5.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 588 people (22.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,725 males, 1,527 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,038 dwellings. 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 759 people (23.3%) aged under 15 years, 564 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 1,500 (46.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 438 (13.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 81.3% European (Pākehā); 26.5% Māori; 3.9% Pasifika; 4.1% Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori by 6.4%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 7.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 22.3% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 2.0% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.2%, and 9.8% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 351 (14.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,464 (58.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 681 (27.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 261 people (10.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,416 (56.6%) full-time, 402 (16.1%) part-time, and 36 (1.4%) unemployed.

Marae

The local Tokerau Marae and Pikiao meeting house are a traditional meeting ground of the Ngāti Pikiao tribe.

Education

Pongakawa School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of 313 as of October 2025. It opened in 1892.