Te Teko

File:One-way bridge across the Rangitaiki River at Te Teko, Whakatane District. ATLIB 291941.png bridge at Te Teko, {{Circa|1920s}}]]

In the pre-colonial period, Te Teko was the birthplace of Rangiteaorere, ancestor of Ngati Rangiteaorere.

In the mid-1860s, Te Teko was the site of a significant siege on a Māori pā as part of the East Cape War.[https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cow02NewZ-c9-1.html The New Zealand Wars: A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period: Volume II: The Hauhau Wars, 1864–72 by James Cowan, F.R.G.S.]

After peace came to the region, a hotel was established on the banks of the Rangitaiki River in 1879 and Te Teko rose in importance as a boat service was established to ferry hotel customers and travellers across the river. A bridge made the boat service redundant in 1915.[http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/BayOfPlenty/BayOfPlentyPlaces/9/ENZ-Resources/Standard/6/en Te Ara encyclopedia of NZ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185908/http://www.teara.govt.nz/Places/BayOfPlenty/BayOfPlentyPlaces/9/ENZ-Resources/Standard/6/en |date=2007-09-27 }}

Te Teko has several marae, which are meeting grounds for Ngāti Awa hapū:{{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}}

• Kokohinau or Tuhimata Marae and O Ruataupare meeting house are affiliated with Te Pahipoto.
• Te Māpou Marae and Rongotangiawa meeting house are affiliated with Ngāti Hāmua.
• Ruaihona Marae and Ruaihona meeting house are affiliated with Ngāi Tamaoki.
• Tuariki Marae and Tuariki meeting house are affiliated with Tuariki.
• Tūteao Marae and Tūteao meeting house are affiliated with Ngā Maihi.
• Uiraroa Marae and Uiraroa meeting house are affiliated with Ngāi Tamawera.

In October 2020, the Government committed $4,871,246 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade a group of 12 marae, including Ruaihona, Tuariki, Tūteao and Uiraroa Marae, creating 23 jobs. It also committed $500,000 to upgrade Te Māpou Marae, creating 6.2 jobs.{{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}}

Te Teko is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers {{Convert|0.38|km2||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=5 July 2025}} It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Te Teko|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Te Teko|y}}|R}}/0.38|0}} people per km². Te Teko is part of the larger Te Teko Lakes 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=Urban Rural – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}

{{Historical populations|2006|447|2013|339|2018|441|2023|408|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Te Teko|source={{NZ census 2018|7015174 and 7015175}}}}

Te Teko had a population of 408 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 33 people (−7.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (20.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 201 males and 210 females in 105 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%2Bdo1.1256.2023&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}} 0.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 29.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 105 people (25.7%) aged under 15 years, 102 (25.0%) aged 15 to 29, 171 (41.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (8.1%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 22.1% European (Pākehā), 93.4% Māori, 6.6% Pasifika, and 1.5% Asian. English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 45.6%, and other languages by 1.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 5.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 19.1% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 35.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 37.5%, and 8.1% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (10.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 186 (61.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 87 (28.7%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $29,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (3.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 147 (48.5%) full-time, 18 (5.9%) part-time, and 39 (12.9%) 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.1256.2013%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=Te Teko (1256)}}

Te Teko Lakes statistical area, which also includes Te Mahoe, covers {{Convert|71.10|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=5 July 2025}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Te Teko Lakes|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Te Teko Lakes|y}}|R}}/71.10|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,707|2013|1,449|2018|1,758|2023|1,785|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Te Teko Lakes|source={{NZ census 2018|Te Teko Lakes (202400)|te-teko-lakes|Te Teko Lakes}}}}

Te Teko Lakes had a population of 1,785 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (1.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 336 people (23.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 933 males and 846 females in 486 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%2Bdo1.202400.2023&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}} 1.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 405 people (22.7%) aged under 15 years, 390 (21.8%) aged 15 to 29, 759 (42.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 225 (12.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 32.8% European (Pākehā); 77.5% Māori; 7.7% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 0.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.9%, Māori by 35.5%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 5.2%. No language could be spoken by 2.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 9.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 22.7% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.3% Islam, 30.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 1.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 38.3%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (10.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 825 (59.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 420 (30.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $30,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 66 people (4.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 663 (48.0%) full-time, 153 (11.1%) part-time, and 129 (9.3%) 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.202400.2013%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=Te Teko Lakes (202400)}}

The Rangitaiki River passes through the town as it flows northwards to its mouth on the Pacific Ocean, and State Highways 30 and 34 meet in the town. SH 30 cuts through the town on its route from Whakatāne to Rotorua, while SH 34 crosses it in the town's west and runs southwest to Kawerau. To the west of the town runs the East Coast Main Trunk Railway, and from it diverges the Murupara Branch line, which skirts the south of Te Teko.

Te Teko has the highest mean daily maximum temperature (20.26 °C) of any settlement in New Zealand, although it is not the warmest town in New Zealand as the mean daily minimum temperature of 8.56 °C is comparatively low. Rainfall is high, averaging 1474mm per year.[https://archive.today/20130119153022/http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/n/NZ9300000B860830.html Climate charts for Te Teko]

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Te Teko (1971–2000 normals, extremes 1963–1994)

| Jan record high C = 36.8

| Feb record high C = 38.1

| Mar record high C = 32.1

| Apr record high C = 27.5

| May record high C = 24.2

| Jun record high C = 21.9

| Jul record high C = 20.4

| Aug record high C = 22.0

| Sep record high C = 25.3

| Oct record high C = 27.6

| Nov record high C = 31.2

| Dec record high C = 33.9

| year record high C = 38.1

| Jan avg record high C = 31.3

| Feb avg record high C = 30.8

| Mar avg record high C = 28.1

| Apr avg record high C = 25.0

| May avg record high C = 21.6

| Jun avg record high C = 19.0

| Jul avg record high C = 18.0

| Aug avg record high C = 19.0

| Sep avg record high C = 21.7

| Oct avg record high C = 24.6

| Nov avg record high C = 26.8

| Dec avg record high C = 28.3

| year avg record high C = 32.2

| Jan high C = 25.9

| Feb high C = 25.9

| Mar high C = 24.1

| Apr high C = 21.1

| May high C = 17.6

| Jun high C = 15.0

| Jul high C = 14.7

| Aug high C = 15.9

| Sep high C = 17.8

| Oct high C = 20.0

| Nov high C = 22.0

| Dec high C = 24.0

| year high C =

| Jan mean C = 19.7

| Feb mean C = 19.8

| Mar mean C = 18.1

| Apr mean C = 15.2

| May mean C = 11.9

| Jun mean C = 9.8

| Jul mean C = 9.3

| Aug mean C = 10.2

| Sep mean C = 12.0

| Oct mean C = 14.1

| Nov mean C = 16.1

| Dec mean C = 18.0

| year mean C =

| Jan low C = 13.5

| Feb low C = 13.7

| Mar low C = 12.1

| Apr low C = 9.3

| May low C = 6.2

| Jun low C = 4.6

| Jul low C = 3.9

| Aug low C = 4.5

| Sep low C = 6.1

| Oct low C = 8.3

| Nov low C = 10.3

| Dec low C = 12.1

| year low C =

| Jan avg record low C = 7.0

| Feb avg record low C = 7.3

| Mar avg record low C = 5.5

| Apr avg record low C = 2.9

| May avg record low C = 0.7

| Jun avg record low C = -0.8

| Jul avg record low C = -0.9

| Aug avg record low C = -0.8

| Sep avg record low C = 0.7

| Oct avg record low C = 2.5

| Nov avg record low C = 4.0

| Dec avg record low C = 5.9

| year avg record low C = -1.9

|Jan record low C = 3.8

|Feb record low C = 3.9

|Mar record low C = 2.5

|Apr record low C = -1.0

|May record low C = -1.7

|Jun record low C = -2.5

|Jul record low C = -5.0

|Aug record low C = -3.6

|Sep record low C = -1.7

|Oct record low C = -1.7

|Nov record low C = 0.4

|Dec record low C = 2.5

|year record low C = -5.0

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 95.3

|Feb rain mm = 106.5

|Mar rain mm = 127.4

|Apr rain mm = 103

|May rain mm = 113.6

|Jun rain mm = 142.7

|Jul rain mm = 110.6

|Aug rain mm = 137.3

|Sep rain mm = 119.5

|Oct rain mm = 122.3

|Nov rain mm = 93

|Dec rain mm = 110.6

|year rain mm =

| Jan sun =236.0

| Feb sun = 197.5

| Mar sun =185.2

| Apr sun =171.6

| May sun =152.4

| Jun sun =124.1

| Jul sun =146.1

| Aug sun =147.0

| Sep sun =155.5

| Oct sun =196.8

| Nov sun =197.3

| Dec sun =208.4

| year sun =

|source = NIWA {{cite web

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

|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 1757)

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 10 Sep 2024}}

}}

Te Kura o Te Teko is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,{{cite web |title=Te Kura o Te Teko Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=2023 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=Ministry of Education}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|2023|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}}{{cite web |title=Te Kura o Te Teko Education Review Office Report |url=https://ero.govt.nz/institution/2023/te-kura-o-te-teko |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=Education Review Office}} It opened in 1881.{{cite web|url=https://www.teteko.school.nz/about-us/our-history/|title=Our History|publisher=Te Kura o Te Teko|access-date=5 July 2025}}

{{reflist}}

{{Rangitaiki}}

{{Whakatāne District}}

Category:Whakatāne District

Category:Populated places in the Bay of Plenty Region