Roto-o-Rangi

A European farmer and three of his workers arrived in 1864 and drained the lake to create rolling farm, under a lease agreement with local Māori that some Māori did not agree to.

The area became the site of conflict during the Waikato War. A fortification was built to accommodate 60 men on the main road between Cambridge and Te Awamutu. The last recorded European death from the war was farm worker Tim Sullivan on 24 April 1873; the pocket knife he had been carrying shortly before his death is on display at Cambridge Museum.{{cite web |title=Pocket Knife Donated by Miss Annie Arnold |url=https://cambridgemuseum.org.nz/pocket-knife/ |website=cambridgemuseum.org.nz |publisher=Cambridge Museum}}

The Gricelands cream skimming factory was built at Roto-o-rangi in 1903. Settlers had to build their own roads to the factory. A Cambridge-based teacher and post-master opened a school in the settlement two years later, in February 1905, sending children home once a week with letters from their parents.

The Roto-o-Rangi Memorial Hall was opened on 8 September 1938, following a fundraising campaign by the local community. A supper room was added in 1949, and the hall was expanded with a new roof in 1958.

The hall has been a venue for many community events. Dances were held at the hall through the decades, with women usually outnumbering men. The local school, Country Women's Institute, Federated Farmers, Young Farmers Club, Playcentre, The Ping Pong Club, Indoor Bowls, Tennis Club, church groups, jazz musicians, ballet classes and politicians have also used the hall for events.{{cite news |last1=Bain |first1=Mike |title=War time period no barrier for Roto-o-Rangi to establish its community hall |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/90615751/war-time-period-no-barrier-for-rotoorangi-to-establish-its-community-hall |agency=Waikato Times |publisher=Stuff |date=24 March 2017}}

Roto O Rangi Road has recently been the site of fatal crashes.{{cite news |title=Motorcyclist killed in crash near Te Awamutu |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11725301 |agency=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=8 October 2016}} {{cite news |title=The human toll of the darkest week on our roads |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12220061 |agency=The New Zealand Herald |publisher=New Zealand Media and Entertainment |date=11 April 2019}}

Roto-o-Rangi locality covers {{Convert|35.24|km2||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=24 April 2025}} The locality is part of the larger Rotoorangi statistical area.{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}

{{Historical populations|2006|273|2013|294|2018|345|2023|363|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Roto-o-Rangi and surrounds|source={{NZ census 2018|7012747 and 7012817}}}}

Roto-o-Rangi locality had a population of 363 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (5.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (23.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 183 males and 180 females in 129 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7012747%2B7012817.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 1.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 93 people (25.6%) aged under 15 years, 54 (14.9%) aged 15 to 29, 177 (48.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.9% European (Pākehā), 9.1% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 5.0% Asian, and 5.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori by 1.7%, and other languages by 5.0%. No language could be spoken by 0.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 25.6% Christian, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% New Age, and 2.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.5%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (22.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 156 (57.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (21.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 36 people (13.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 177 (65.6%) full-time and 42 (15.6%) part-time.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7012747%2B7012817.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7012747 and 7012817}}

Rotoorangi statistical area, which also includes Rangiaowhia, covers {{Convert|183.38|km2||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=24 April 2025}} It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Rotoorangi|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Rotoorangi|y}}|R}}/183.38|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,401|2013|1,602|2018|1,737|2023|1,770|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Rotoorangi statistical area|source={{NZ census 2018|Rotoorangi (184600)|rotoorangi|Rotoorangi}}|footnote=The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 182.15 km².}}

Rotoorangi statistical area had a population of 1,770 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (1.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 168 people (10.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 912 males and 855 females in 645 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.184601.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 393 people (22.2%) aged under 15 years, 273 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 831 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 273 (15.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.8% European (Pākehā); 14.7% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 3.9% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori by 2.5%, and other languages by 5.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 29.5% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 0.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.8%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 267 (19.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 780 (56.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 318 (23.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $50,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 195 people (14.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 804 (58.4%) full-time, 228 (16.6%) part-time, and 21 (1.5%) unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.184601.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Rotoorangi (184601)}}

Roto-o-Rangi School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,{{TKI|1927|Roto-o-Rangi School}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1927|y}}.{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1927 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} It opened in 1905.{{cite web|url=https://cambridgemuseum.org.nz/roto-o-rangi/|title=Roto-o-rangi|publisher=Cambridge Museum|first=Eris|last=Parker|access-date=24 April 2025}}

Puahue School, another state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, is located southeast of the township.{{TKI|1902|Puahue School}} It has a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1902|y}}.{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1902 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} The school opened in 1912.{{cite web|url=https://collection.tamuseum.org.nz/objects/19494/puahue-school-1912-2012-ellicotts-block-school-1936-1952|title=Puahue School 1912-2012, Ellicott's Block School 1936-1952 (archive record)|publisher=Te Awamutu Museum|access-date=7 November 2020}}

Both schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Waipa District}}

Category:Waipa District

Category:Populated places in Waikato