Pahoia

Pahoia
Rural community
Pahoia School
Pahoia School
Interactive map of Pahoia
Coordinates: 37°39′14″S 175°59′46″E / 37.654°S 175.996°E / -37.654; 175.996
CountryNew Zealand
RegionBay of Plenty
Territorial authorityWestern Bay of Plenty District
WardKatikati-Waihi Beach Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWestern Bay of Plenty District Council
 • Regional councilBay of Plenty Regional Council
 • Mayor of Western Bay of PlentyJames Denyer
 • Coromandel MPScott Simpson
 • Waiariki MPRawiri Waititi
Area
 • Total
5.30 km2 (2.05 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
318
 • Density60.0/km2 (155/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
3172

Pahoia is a waterfront settlement in the Western Bay of Plenty District and Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island.

It includes a stretch of State Highway 2 that is a common crash site, due to windy roads, high speeds and heavy traffic. The New Zealand Transport Agency has reduced speeds along the road following a series of crashes, including introducing a school speed zone outside Pahoia School.

Pahoia Domain, a beach and park, is the base for a mud challenge fundraiser for Tauranga Boys' College rugby teams. The course includes 6km of mudflats along the Pahoia waterfront.

Demographics

Pahoia locality covers 5.30 km2 (2.05 sq mi). It is part of the larger Pahoia statistical area.

Historical population for Pahoia locality
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006258—    
2013240−1.03%
2018288+3.71%
2023318+2.00%
Source:

The locality had a population of 318 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (10.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 78 people (32.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 147 males and 171 females in 123 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 66 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 27 (8.5%) aged 15 to 29, 147 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 75 (23.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.2% European (Pākehā), 12.3% Māori, 2.8% Pasifika, 0.9% Asian, and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 0.9%, and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 25.5% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.9% Māori religious beliefs, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 63.2%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 66 (26.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 141 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 36 (14.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 39 people (15.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 126 (50.0%) full-time and 54 (21.4%) part-time.

Pahoia statistical area

Pahoia statistical area covers 112.79 km2 (43.55 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 3,420 as of June 2025, with a population density of 30 people per km2.

Historical population for the statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,640—    
20132,667+0.15%
20183,195+3.68%
20233,297+0.63%
Source:

Pahoia statistical area had a population of 3,297 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 102 people (3.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 630 people (23.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,647 males, 1,638 females, and 9 people of other genders in 1,143 dwellings. 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 621 people (18.8%) aged under 15 years, 432 (13.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,671 (50.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 579 (17.6%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.1% European (Pākehā); 13.0% Māori; 2.0% Pasifika; 2.3% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.8%, Māori by 2.5%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 7.4%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 24.7% Christian, 0.8% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.5%, and 9.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 669 (25.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,512 (56.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 495 (18.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 378 people (14.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,359 (50.8%) full-time, 510 (19.1%) part-time, and 48 (1.8%) unemployed.

Individual statistical areas
NameArea
(km2)		PopulationDensity
(per km2)		DwellingsMedian ageMedian
income
Pahoia West40.581,3503348646.2 years$43,300
Pahoia East72.211,9472765747.5 years$41,900
New Zealand38.1 years$41,500

Education

Pahoia School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students, with a roll of 169 as of July 2026. The school opened in 1927. The school holds an annual triathlon.

Railway station

Pahoia in 1959

Pahoia railway station served an area of World War 1 soldier settlers, initially provided with a siding and then a flag station on the East Coast Main Trunk from 28 March 1928 to 31 October 1960 (21 April 1963 for goods), though a special train ran on 29 February 1928 and goods were carried from 5 March. New Zealand Railways (NZR) took over from the Public Works Department (PWD) on 18 June 1928. The station had a shelter shed, cart approach, a 30 ft (9.1 m) by 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed, cattle and sheep yards, a loading bank and a passing loop for 29 wagons. It also had toilets until they were closed in 1958.

The station was on the 18.5 mi (29.8 km) section of the railway between Tahawai and Te Puna, built by Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co for about £500,000. Due to difficulties in establishing firm foundations for the line and its bridges, it was the last section of the Auckland-Tāneatua line to be completed. It was unusual at the time for contracts to be given to private companies, rather than to PWD, or worker cooperatives. The contractors built a wharf and stacking yard at Mount Maunganui, and landing-stages at several estuaries along the Harbour. They built 100 x 2-man, 13 x 4-man, 66 x 6-man huts, 46 married quarters, 3 cookhouses, 4 bathhouses, 2 recreation-rooms, quarters for field engineers and had two steam-locomotives, six steam-navvies, six petrol-locomotives, two steam pile-drivers, concrete-mixers, launches, punts, motor-lorries and ballast-trucks. Earthworks amounted to 1,229,000 yd3 (940,000 m3).

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Apata
Line open, station closed
1.91 km (1.19 mi)
Towards Hamilton		   East Coast Main Trunk
New Zealand Railways Department		   Ōmokoroa
Line open, station closed
3.93 km (2.44 mi)
Towards Tāneatua

References

  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Coromandel - Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. 7 November 2026. Retrieved 9 November 2026.
  3. ↑ "Waiariki - Preliminary Count". Electoral Commission. 7 November 2026. Retrieved 10 November 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7013606 and 7013609. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Gillespie, Kim (23 October 2019). "Lowering Bay of Plenty SH2 speed no solution - road safety advocates". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Bay of Plenty Times.
  7. ↑ Gillespei, Kim (26 October 2018). "Slower speed limits tipped for State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Katikati". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Bay of Plenty Times.
  8. ↑ Liddle, Rosalie (11 August 2019). "Mud glorious mud!". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  9. ↑ Troughton, Jamie (6 August 2019). "Team bonding key for mud challenge". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  10. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7013606 and 7013609.
  11. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 28 May 2025.
  13. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Pahoia West (190901) and Pahoia East (190902). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Pahoia (190900). 2018 Census place summary: Pahoia
  16. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  17. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Pahoia West. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Pahoia East. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Pahoia School Official School Website". pahoia.school.nz.
  20. ↑ "Pahoia School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  21. ↑ "Pahoia School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  22. ↑ "Our school". Pahoia School. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  23. ↑ Taipari, Greg (28 February 2016). "Rising stars of Pahoia School". Sun Media. Sun Live.
  24. ↑ "East coast railway. Auckland Star". 9 May 1928.
  25. ↑ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  26. ↑ "Bay of Plenty Times". 28 February 1928.
  27. 1 2 Scoble, Juliet. "Station Archive". Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
  28. ↑ "East coast railway. Poverty Bay Herald". 28 March 1928.
  29. ↑ "Public Works Statement by the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works". 1923.
  30. ↑ "Public Works Statement by the Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works". 1925.
  31. ↑ Yonge, John Roger (1993). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas. Quail Map Company. ISBN 9780900609923.