Kakaramea

Kakaramea
Coordinates:
Country	New Zealand
Region	Taranaki
District	South Taranaki District
Ward	Pātea General Ward Te Tai Tonga Māori Ward
Community	Pātea Community
Electorates	Whanganui Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)
Government
• Territorial Authority	South Taranaki District Council
• Regional council	Taranaki Regional Council
• Mayor of South Taranaki	Phil Nixon
• Whanganui MP	Carl Bates
• Te Tai Hauāuru MP	Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
• Total	29.97 km2 (11.57 sq mi)
Population  (2023 census)
• Total	219
• Density	7.31/km2 (18.9/sq mi)

Kakaramea is a town in South Taranaki, New Zealand. State Highway 3 passes through it. Patea is about 6 km to the south-east, and Hāwera is about 20 km to the north-west.

Demographics

Kakaramea locality covers 29.97 km² (11.57 sq mi). The locality is part of the larger Manutahi-Waitōtora statistical area.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	237	—
2013	252	+0.88%
2018	225	−2.24%
2023	219	−0.54%
Source:

Kakaramea had a population of 219 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 6 people (−2.7%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 33 people (−13.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 117 males and 102 females in 87 dwellings. 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 45 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 48 (21.9%) aged 15 to 29, 99 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (11.0%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 79.5% European (Pākehā), 31.5% Māori, 1.4% Pasifika, and 2.7% Asian. English was spoken by 95.9%, Māori by 9.6%, and other languages by 2.7%. No language could be spoken by 4.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 6.8, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 26.0% Christian, 2.7% Māori religious beliefs, 1.4% Buddhist, 2.7% New Age, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 58.9%, and 8.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (6.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 108 (62.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 54 (31.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 15 people (8.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 84 (48.3%) full-time, 27 (15.5%) part-time, and 12 (6.9%) unemployed.

Marae

The local Pariroa Marae is a traditional meeting ground for the Ngāti Ruanui hapū of Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kōtuku, Ngāti Ringi, Ngāti Tūpito and Tuatahi. It features the Taiporohēnui meeting house.

In October 2020, the Government committed $1,479,479 from the Provincial Growth Fund to renovate Meremere Marae, Ketemarae Pā, Pariroa Marae and Taiporohēnui Marae, creating 35 jobs.

Education

Kakaramea School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 56 (July 2025). The school and district celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2001.