Puni, New Zealand

Puni
An onion field in Puni
Coordinates: 37°13′59″S 174°51′20″E / 37.2330°S 174.8556°E / -37.2330; 174.8556
Country	New Zealand
Region	Auckland Region
Ward	Franklin ward
Board	Franklin Local Board
Electorates	Port Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Government
• Territorial Authority	Auckland Council
Area [1]
• Total	39.22 km2 (15.14 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	1,890
• Density	48/km2 (120/sq mi)

Puni is a rural locality in the Franklin ward of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. It is predominantly a dairy farming and market gardening area. The main type of crops grown are potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Puni is located between the larger towns of Pukekohe and Waiuku.^[3]

Puni covers 39.22 km² (15.14 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,890 as of June 2024,^[2] with a population density of 48 people per km².

Before the 2023 census, Puni had a smaller boundary, covering 38.19 km² (14.75 sq mi).^[1] Using that boundary, Puni had a population of 1,593 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (4.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 132 people (9.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 480 households, comprising 831 males and 765 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.09 males per female. The median age was 41.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 321 people (20.2%) aged under 15 years, 315 (19.8%) aged 15 to 29, 723 (45.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 234 (14.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 75.7% European/Pākehā, 13.4% Māori, 5.5% Pacific peoples, 14.9% Asian, and 2.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 18.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.0% had no religion, 36.2% were Christian, 1.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 3.2% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 186 (14.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 246 (19.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 249 people (19.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 732 (57.5%) people were employed full-time, 201 (15.8%) were part-time, and 27 (2.1%) were unemployed.^[4]

Puni School is a contributing primary school (years 1–6) with a roll of 229.^[5] The school was founded in 1878.^[6]

Mauku School is a contributing primary school (years 1–6) with a roll of 156.^[7] It is a little more than 4 km northwest of Puni School, and was opened in 1883.^[8]

Both schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.^[9]