Kaponga

Settlement in Taranaki Region, New Zealand

Place in Taranaki Region, New Zealand

Kaponga

The Kaponga Logo

Coordinates: 39°25′S 174°08′E﻿ / ﻿39.417°S 174.133°E﻿ / -39.417; 174.133
Country| New Zealand
Region| Taranaki Region
Territorial authority| South Taranaki District
Ward|

* Eltham-Kaponga General Ward
* Te Kūrae Māori Ward

Community| Eltham-Kaponga Community
Electorates|

* Whanganui
* Te Tai Hauāuru (Māori)

Government

• Territorial Authority| South Taranaki District Council
• Regional council| Taranaki Regional Council
Area

[1]

• Total

| 1.56 km2 (0.60 sq mi)
Population

(June 2024)[2]

• Total

| 370
• Density| 240/km2 (610/sq mi)

Kaponga is a small town in the southern part of the Taranaki region of New Zealand. It is known as "The Gateway to Dawson's Falls" on Mount Taranaki. Kaponga is located inland from Manaia and Eltham, and is on the main road connecting Eltham to Ōpunake. Ōpunake is 26 kilometres (16 mi) to the west and Eltham is 13 km to the east. Auroa lies to the south-east. Manaia is 15 kilometres (9 mi) south of Kaponga.[3][4]

## History

[edit]

The small town of Kaponga was settled in 1882, and has strong Swiss connections.[5] Some of the first settlers in the area were Swiss, and in 1952, the Taranaki Swiss Club was formed.[6]

The town was once a much larger town than it is today: with many stores. There are only a few shops now. It is also home to a garden of national significance, Hollard Gardens.[7]

There are many other businesses working in and around the village, mainly relying on the booming dairy industry. The Kaponga and surrounding community has a South Taranaki District Council LibraryPlus, which provides a full library service and Council related services. These services include being able to register your dog, pay your rates or inquire about obtaining a building permit. The LibraryPlus also has two APN computers, offering free internet and Skype to the public.

## Demographics

[edit]

Kaponga is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.56 km2 (0.60 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 370 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 237 people per km2. It is part of the larger Kaponga-Mangatoki statistical area.[1]

Historical population for KapongaYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 363| —
2013| 297| −2.83%
2018| 309| +0.80%
Source: [8]
Mount Taranaki taken from a residential home in Kaponga

Kaponga had a population of 309 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (4.0%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 54 people (−14.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 126 households, comprising 171 males and 144 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.19 males per female, with 63 people (20.4%) aged under 15 years, 54 (17.5%) aged 15 to 29, 159 (51.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (10.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 81.6% European/Pākehā, 28.2% Māori, 4.9% Pacific peoples, 2.9% Asian, and 2.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.3% had no religion, and 29.1% were Christian.

Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (7.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 78 (31.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 27 people (11.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 120 (48.8%) people were employed full-time, 24 (9.8%) were part-time, and 9 (3.7%) were unemployed.[8]

### Kaponga-Mangatoki statistical area

[edit]

Kaponga-Mangatoki statistical area covers 172.81 km2 (66.72 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,430 as of June 2024,[9] with a population density of 8.3 people per km2.

Historical population for Kaponga-MangatokiYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 1,371| —
2013| 1,281| −0.97%
2018| 1,305| +0.37%
Source: [10]

Kaponga-Mangatoki had a population of 1,305 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 24 people (1.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 66 people (−4.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 471 households, comprising 699 males and 609 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.15 males per female. The median age was 34.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 336 people (25.7%) aged under 15 years, 240 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 618 (47.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (8.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.5% European/Pākehā, 14.0% Māori, 2.3% Pacific peoples, 4.6% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.2, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.7% had no religion, 35.4% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.1% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (9.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 270 (27.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $31,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 153 people (15.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 531 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 141 (14.6%) were part-time, and 27 (2.8%) were unemployed.[10]

## Education

[edit]

Kaponga School is a school with a roll of 56 students.[11] The school was founded in 1891.[12] In 2005, Kapuni and Mahoe schools closed and merged into Kaponga School.[13]

St Patrick's School is a state integrated Catholic school with a roll of 21 students.[14] St Patrick's started in 1921 with lessons held in the local church. It moved into its own building in February 1922.[15]

Both are coeducational full primary schools, covering years 1-8. Rolls are as of March 2025.[16]

## Association Football

[edit]

The Kaponga Soccer Club[17] was formed in 1906 and is one of the oldest football clubs in Taranaki.[18] The club has won the Taranaki Championship three times, in 1909[19] 1912 and 1924.[20] In 1926 the club won the Manaia Hibernian Society 7-a-side cup before disbanding for a time. A new club emerged in the area under the name Egmont United in 1929, made from Kaponga, Auroa, Eltham and Stratford players before dissolving in 1931.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004), Reed New Zealand Atlas, Reed Books, map 34, ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
4. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005), The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, Robbie Burton, map 96, ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
5. ^ "Kaponga Travel Guide". Jasons Travel Media. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011.
6. ^ For the history of this society, see Gut, Theresa; Gut, Werner (2006), Made in Switzerland - for Kaponga, Eltham, [N.Z.]: Taylormade Productions.
7. ^ See Hollard gardens, Kaponga, Taranaki, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (N.Z.), 1985.
8. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017390 and 7017391.
9. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
10. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Kaponga-Mangatoki (220800). 2018 Census place summary: Kaponga-Mangatoki
11. ^ Education Counts: Kaponga School
12. ^ Kaponga School Centennial Committee (1991), Kaponga School centenary, 1891-1991, Kaponga, N.Z.: The School?, ISBN 0-473-01432-7
13. ^ "Mergers, Closures and New Schools, January 2005 - December 2005". Education Counts. Archived from the original (XLS) on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2008.
14. ^ Education Counts: St Patrick's School
15. ^ "Our History". St Patrick's School.
16. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
17. ^ "Kaponga Soccer Club - Home". www.sporty.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
18. ^ "Sport 1900–08 | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
19. ^ specified, Not. "Group portrait of a male soccer team from Kaponga". Group portrait of a male soccer team ... | Items | National Library of New Zealand | National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
20. ^ "New Zealand - List of Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 June 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* St Patrick's School website
* Kaponga Primary School website
* Hollard Gardens website
* Constable Cottage  Archived 19 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine
* Mt Taranaki Adventures
* Taranaki Swiss Club
* Settler Kaponga by R. Arnold, eText
* Photo of a Kaponga settler's home, 1900 (from Arnold)
* Photo of a wagon in Kaponga c1911 (from Arnold)

* v
* t
* e

South Taranaki District, New Zealand

Seat: Hāwera

Populated places|

| Eltham-Kaponga Ward|

* Auroa (east portion)
* Eltham
* Kaponga
* Kapuni
* Mangatoki
* Matapu
* Rawhitiroa

|

Pātea Ward|

* Alton
* Hurleyville
* Kakaramea
* Manutahi
* Ngamatapouri
* Patea
* Waiinu Beach
* Waitōtara
* Waverley
* Whenuakura

Taranaki Coastal Ward|

* Auroa (west portion)
* Kaupokonui
* Manaia
* Oaonui
* Ōpunake
* Parihaka
* Pihama
* Pungarehu
* Rahotu
* Warea

Te Hāwera Ward|

* Hāwera
* Mokoia
* Normanby
* Ohangai
* Ohawe
* Okaiawa
* Ramanui

Geographic features|

* Cape Egmont
* Lake Dive
* Manawapou River
* Pātea River
* Lake Rotokare
* Lake Rotorangi
* South Taranaki Bight
* Tangahoe River
* Waiaua River
* Waingongoro River
* Waitōtara River
* Whenuakura River

Facilities and attractions|

* Aotea Utanganui – Museum of South Taranaki
* Bayly Park
* Cape Egmont Lighthouse
* Kupe field
* Hawera Observatory
* Pātea Dam
* Patea Freezing Works
* Pātea Hydro Electric Scheme
* Waipipi Wind Farm

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Organisations|

* Hawera High School
* Opunake High School
* Waitotara School
* Waverley High School
* Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki

History|

* 1901 Patea by-elections
* 1921 Patea by-election
* 1954 Patea by-election

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template