Ruatoria

Statistics New Zealand describes Ruatoria as a rural settlement, which covers {{Convert|13.19|km2||abbr=on}}{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787|access-date=16 January 2023|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Ruatoria|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Ruatoria|y}}|R}}/13.19|0}} people per km². It is part of the larger Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area.

{{Historical populations|2006|723|2013|723|2018|759|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Ruatoria settlement|source=}}

Ruatoria had a population of 759 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (5.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 36 people (5.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 225 households, comprising 396 males and 363 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female, with 243 people (32.0%) aged under 15 years, 165 (21.7%) aged 15 to 29, 282 (37.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (8.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.3% Māori, 20.6% European/Pākehā, 3.6% Pacific peoples, 2.4% Asian, and 0.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 38.7% had no religion, 36.8% were Christian, 5.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 54 (10.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 135 (26.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 27 people (5.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 168 (32.6%) people were employed full-time, 90 (17.4%) were part-time, and 42 (8.1%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|7015472 and 7015474–7015476}}

The town is known for its population of Maori Rastafarians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300470977/ruatoria-remnants-of-the-past-strong-family-ties-and-a-few-dogs-and-horses|title=Stuff|website=www.stuff.co.nz}}{{Cite web|url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/3217/|title=Continuity, communion and the dread: the Maori Rastafari of Ruatoria, Aotearoa-New Zeland|first=Dave|last=Robinson|date=29 June 2013|via=etheses.lse.ac.uk}}

Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area covers {{Convert|693.32|km2||abbr=on}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Ruatoria-Raukumara|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Ruatoria-Raukumara|y}}|R}}/693.32|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,287|2013|1,203|2018|1,233|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Ruatoria-Raukumara|source=}}

Ruatoria-Raukumara had a population of 1,233 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (2.5%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 54 people (−4.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 405 households, comprising 666 males and 567 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 32.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 336 people (27.3%) aged under 15 years, 243 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 498 (40.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 156 (12.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 22.4% European/Pākehā, 94.2% Māori, 2.9% Pacific peoples, 1.2% Asian, and 0.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 2.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 36.3% had no religion, 38.9% were Christian, 5.1% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (10.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 228 (25.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $19,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 42 people (4.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 315 (35.1%) people were employed full-time, 132 (14.7%) were part-time, and 78 (8.7%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Ruatoria-Raukumara (204900)|ruatoria-raukumara|Ruatoria-Raukumara}}

As the crow flies, Ruatoria is approximately {{convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}} north-northeast of Gisborne, and {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of the East Cape Lighthouse.{{Google maps |url=http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Ruatoria,+Gisborne&hl=en&sll=-41.244772,172.617188&sspn=44.94732,107.138672&oq=Ruatori&hnear=Ruatoria,+Gisborne&t=m&z=11 |title=Ruatoria |access-date=12 May 2012}} By road it is {{convert|128|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Gisborne, {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} off State Highway 35. It is at the bottom of the Waiapu Valley on the banks of the Waiapu River just downstream of where the river is formed by the joining of the Mata and Tapuaeroa Rivers.

Precipitation is prodigiously high — the annual average precipitation total approaches {{convert|2000|mm|in|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.theweathernetwork.com/statistics/c04181 |title=Statistics: Ruatoria, New Zealand |publisher=The Weather Network |access-date=12 May 2012}} Precipitation is heavy all year-round, yet is particularly prodigious in the austral winter months from May to September. On 7 February 1973, Ruatoria had the highest ever air temperature recorded in the North Island ({{Convert|39.2|C|F|disp=or}}), the same day the nation's highest temperature was recorded in the South Island town of Rangiora ({{Convert|42.4|C|F|disp=or}}).{{cite web |url=http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate/extreme#table02 |title=Climate Extremes |date=31 December 2010 |work=Education & Training |publisher=NIWA |location=Auckland, New Zealand |at=Temperature |access-date=12 May 2012}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Ruatoria (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1962–1996)

| Jan record high C = 38.9

| Feb record high C = 39.2

| Mar record high C = 35.0

| Apr record high C = 28.6

| May record high C = 24.6

| Jun record high C = 22.7

| Jul record high C = 20.4

| Aug record high C = 21.4

| Sep record high C = 25.2

| Oct record high C = 31.5

| Nov record high C = 32.5

| Dec record high C = 35.2

| year record high C = 39.2

|Jan record low C = 5.1

|Feb record low C = 3.3

|Mar record low C = 2.9

|Apr record low C = 0.3

|May record low C = -2.3

|Jun record low C = -4.2

|Jul record low C = -5.9

|Aug record low C = -3.1

|Sep record low C = -4.2

|Oct record low C = -0.4

|Nov record low C = -0.1

|Dec record low C = 3.4

|year record low C = -5.9

| Jan avg record high C = 32.4

| Feb avg record high C = 30.9

| Mar avg record high C = 28.3

| Apr avg record high C = 25.7

| May avg record high C = 22.3

| Jun avg record high C = 20.0

| Jul avg record high C = 18.5

| Aug avg record high C = 19.6

| Sep avg record high C = 21.7

| Oct avg record high C = 24.8

| Nov avg record high C = 27.6

| Dec avg record high C = 30.0

| year avg record high C = 32.9

|Jan high C = 25.0

|Feb high C = 24.4

|Mar high C = 23.0

|Apr high C = 20.5

|May high C = 18.1

|Jun high C = 15.7

|Jul high C = 14.8

|Aug high C = 15.4

|Sep high C = 17.3

|Oct high C = 19.2

|Nov high C = 21.1

|Dec high C = 23.5

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 19.5

|Feb mean C = 19.2

|Mar mean C = 17.9

|Apr mean C = 15.3

|May mean C = 12.9

|Jun mean C = 10.6

|Jul mean C = 9.9

|Aug mean C = 10.5

|Sep mean C = 12.2

|Oct mean C = 13.9

|Nov mean C = 15.9

|Dec mean C = 18.1

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 13.9

|Feb low C = 14.1

|Mar low C = 12.7

|Apr low C = 10.1

|May low C = 7.7

|Jun low C = 5.5

|Jul low C = 5.0

|Aug low C = 5.6

|Sep low C = 7.0

|Oct low C = 8.7

|Nov low C = 10.7

|Dec low C = 12.7

| year low C =

| Jan avg record low C = 7.7

| Feb avg record low C = 8.1

| Mar avg record low C = 5.9

| Apr avg record low C = 3.2

| May avg record low C = 0.7

| Jun avg record low C = -1.0

| Jul avg record low C = -1.9

| Aug avg record low C = -0.6

| Sep avg record low C = 0.3

| Oct avg record low C = 2.8

| Nov avg record low C = 4.2

| Dec avg record low C = 6.3

| year avg record low C = -2.2

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 83.0

|Feb rain mm = 154.7

|Mar rain mm = 164.9

|Apr rain mm = 161.6

|May rain mm = 160.2

|Jun rain mm = 167.3

|Jul rain mm = 186.7

|Aug rain mm = 186.8

|Sep rain mm = 164.2

|Oct rain mm = 95.1

|Nov rain mm = 118.4

|Dec rain mm = 105.3

|year rain mm =

|source 1 = NIWA

{{cite web

|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz

|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Ruatoria 2

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web

|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number:2725)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 9 May 2024}}

}}

The principal industries in the district are related to agriculture and forestry.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} Attempts to sink oil wells in the area in the 1920s proved unprofitable.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

{{More citations needed section|date=July 2012}}The original shop, bunk house and cook house in the township of Tuparoa were destroyed by fire on two occasions between 1907 and 1913. Commerce was moved inland 5 miles to the area known as The Crossroads, northeast of the present town sitting on the area of the first river plain where it drops to the present river plain where the roads went north–south and to the east. (There was a race course on land alongside the Waiapu River below The Crossroads but that was abandoned by the end of the second world war). The Crossroads too was destroyed by fire during the first world war and in 1920 the first general store and accommodation was erected by William Hayes Owen Johnston (1890–1960) on what is now Tuparoa Road. (The shop has been dismantled after his death in 1960) He is buried with his third wife in the cemetery at Mahora on the Tuparoa road just before the junction with the side road to Reparoa. (His first and second wives were of the Gerrard family of Tuparoa and are buried in the cemetery at the top of the hill on the northern side of the creek which separated the old Tuparoa settlement).

From about 1925 onwards, Ruatoria began to replace Tuparoa as the main urban centre of the East Coast district of New Zealand. The transition to Ruatoria from Tuparoa was brought about by the increased reliability of State Highway 35, which at that time ran via the main street of Ruatoria. Tuparoa was disadvantaged by unreliable road access and a lack of all weather harbour.

The Rotokautuku Bridge, connecting Ruatoria to the northern side of Waiapu River, was built in 1964.{{cite news |title=Rotokautuku Bridge Opened |url=https://photonews.org.nz/gisborne/issue/GPN118_19640423/t1-body-d18.html |issue=118 |publisher=Gisborne Photo News |date=23 April 1964}} This 1964 bridge replaced the old bridge which had been built in the 1930s. The old piles were used for the new bridge, although they had to be lowered by a metre to accommodate the new bridge.

In the 1980s, Ruatoria was briefly notorious for an outbreak of arson attacks in the town, during a period of severe economic downturn.{{cite web |url=http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/featured/detailed-history-of-district-since-1950/ |title=Detailed history of district since 1950 |work=Gisborne Herald website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318052009/http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/featured/detailed-history-of-district-since-1950/ |access-date=20 July 2012|archive-date=18 March 2012 }}{{cite web|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/features/23-02-2016/i-had-recurring-nightmares-in-which-i-would-fall-victim-to-the-anger-of-the-rastas-an-interview-with-angus-gillies|title='I had recurring nightmares in which I would fall victim to the anger of the Rastas'|author=Steve Braunias|date=23 February 2016|publisher=The Spinoff}}

The Ngāti Porou proverb of identity relates to the area — Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Ngāti Porou te iwi (Hikurangi is the mountain, Waiapu is the river, Ngāti Porou is the tribe).{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/ngati-porou/2 |title=Ngāti Porou – Tribal boundaries and resources |first=Tamati Muturangi |last=Reedy |date=4 March 2009 |encyclopedia=Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Manatū Taonga {{pipe}} Ministry for Culture and Heritage |location=Wellington, New Zealand |access-date=12 May 2012}} Ruatoria is within the iwi's rohe, and Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou has offices located in the town.{{cite web |url=http://www.ngatiporou.com |title=Whakapa Mai – Contact Details – Ngati Porou |publisher=Te Runanga O Ngati Porou |location=Ruatoria, New Zealand |access-date=12 May 2012}}

The Waiapu River is of immense cultural, spiritual, economic, and traditional value to local Māori.{{cite web |url=http://nz01.terabyte.co.nz/ots/DocumentLibrary/NgatiPorouDeedDocumentsSchedule.pdf |title=Deed of Settlement Schedule: Documents |date=22 December 2010 |work=Ngāti Porou Deed of Settlement |publisher=New Zealand Government |location=Wellington, New Zealand |page=1 |access-date=12 May 2012}} According to traditional beliefs, a number of taniwha dwell in and protect the river, in turn protecting the valley and its hapū. Taniwha believed to be in Waiapu River include Kotuwainuku, Kotuwairangi, Ohinewaiapu, and Ngungurutehorowhatu.{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/7D56EB48-ED81-471B-953B-BA21E193697B/194516/49SCMA_EVI_00DBHOH_BILL10537_1_A194229_DrApiranaMa.pdf |title=Affidavit of Hapukuniha Te Huakore Karaka |first=Hapukuniha Te Huakore |last=Karaka |date=28 July 2000 |work=In the matter of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 and in the matter of a claim by Apirana Tuahae Mahuika for and on behalf of Te Runanga o Ngati Porou |publisher=Rainey Collins Wright & Co |location=Wellington, New Zealand |at=pp. 6–7 Mana Moana/The Waiapu River; paras. 16–17 |id=WAI272 |access-date=12 May 2012}}

According to an affidavit of Hapukuniha Te Huakore Karaka, two taniwha were placed in strategic locations in the river to protect the hapū from invading tribes — one near Paoaruku (a locality at {{coord|-37.82716138|178.3390364|region:NZ_type:city|format=dms|display=inline|notes={{cite map |publisher=Land Information New Zealand |title=BE45 - Waipiro Bay (Paoaruku) |url=http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz4710/Paoaruku/Gisborne |scale=1:50,000 |series=Topo50 |access-date=12 May 2012}}}}), and one at the Wairoa River (a small creek at {{coord|-37.83695267|178.3998781|region:NZ_type:river|format=dms|display=inline|notes={{cite map |publisher=Land Information New Zealand |title=BE45 - Waipiro Bay (Wairoa River, Gisborne) |url=http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz4741/Wairoa%20River/Gisborne |scale=1:50,000 |series=Topo50 |access-date=12 May 2012}}}}). Karaka said that a bridge was built from Tikitiki to Waiomatatini, to the protest of local Māori who were concerned that it would disturb the taniwha. The night before the bridge was completed, a storm came washing the bridge away — the weather till then had been calm. From then, one person would drown in the river nearly every year. If it did not happen one year, two would drown the next. A local tohunga, George Gage (Hori Te Kou-o-rehua Keeti) was approached to help the situation, and after that there were no similar drownings.

Ruatoria has several marae belonging to Ngāti Porou hapū:

• Hiruharama Marae and Kapohanga a Rangi meeting house, a meeting place of Te Aitanga a Mate and Te Aowera.
• Te Aowera Marae and Te Poho o Te Aowera meeting house, a meeting place of Te Aowera.
• Te Horo Marae and Rākaitemania meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Horowai, Te Whānau a Mahaki and Te Whānau a Uruhonea.
• Kakariki Marae and Rakaihoea meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Rākaihoea.
• Kariaka Marae and Ngāti Porou meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāi Tangihaere and Te Whānau a Hinekehu.
• Mangahanea Marae and Hinetapora meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Uepōhatu and Te Whānau a Hinetapora.
• Mangarua or Te Heapera Marae and Te Poho o Mangarua meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Hinetapora.
• Porourangi or Waiomatatini Marae and Porourangi meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Karuai.
• Reporua Marae and Tū Auau meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Rangi.
• Ruataupare Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāi Tangihaere.
• Rauru or Taumata o Mihi Marae and Rauru Nui a Toi meeting house, a meeting place of Te Whānau a Hinekehu.
• Uepohatu Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Uepōhatu.
• Umuariki Marae and meeting house, a meeting place of Ngāti Uepōhatu and Te Whānau a Umuariki.{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=Te Puni Kōkiri}}{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}

In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade 29 Ngāti Porou marae, including Te Aowera Marae, Te Horo, Kariaka, Rauru, Umariki, Mangahanea, Mangarua, Reporua and Ruataupare Marae. It also committed $273,890 to upgrade Uepohatu Marae and $232,227 to upgrade Hiruharama Marae.{{cite web |title=Marae Announcements |url=https://www.growregions.govt.nz/assets/funding-announcements/marae-announcements.xlsx |website=growregions.govt.nz |publisher=Provincial Growth Fund |format=Excel |date=9 October 2020}}

Ngata Memorial College is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=206 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|206|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28®ion=5&school=206 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} The college opened in 1959.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ngatacollege.school.nz/home/history-of-the-college|title=History of the College|publisher=Ngata Memorial College|access-date=3 January 2020}}

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu O Ngati Porou is a Year 1–13 co-educational public school{{cite web |title=Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=1673 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|1673|y}} students as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?district=28®ion=5&school=1673 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}}

The area was home to politician Sir Āpirana Ngata, and Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu — the second of three Māori to receive a Victoria Cross.{{cite book |last1=Harper |first1=Glyn |last2=Richardson |first2=Colin |title=In the Face of the Enemy: The Complete History of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand |pages=262–8 |year=2007 |publisher=HarperCollins |location=Auckland, New Zealand |isbn=978-1-86950-650-6 |oclc=154708169}}

• Waiapu Valley
• Waiapu River
• Gisborne Region

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141219052551/http://www.panoramio.com/map#lt=-37.895311&ln=178.308964&z=4&k=2&a=1&tab=1&pl=all Photos of Ruatoria] on Panoramio

{{Gisborne District}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in the Gisborne District