# Kaingaroa, Bay of Plenty

Kaingaroa, also called Kaingaroa Forest (not to be confused with the actual forest) or Kaingaroa Village, is a small town southeast of Rotorua within the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The town is the headquarters of Kaingaroa Forest.

## Demographics

Kaingaroa is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 11.29 km$^2$ (4.36 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 420 as of June 2023, with a population density of 37 people per km$^2$. Kaingaroa is part of the larger Kaingaroa-Whakarewarewa statistical area.
Kaingaroa had a population of 402 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−5.6%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 81 people (−16.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 123 households, comprising 213 males and 189 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.13 males per female, with 117 people (29.1%) aged under 15 years, 87 (21.6%) aged 15 to 29, 162 (40.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (7.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 23.9% European/Pākehā, 88.8% Māori, 5.2% Pacific peoples, 1.5% Asian, and 0.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 48.5% had no religion, 28.4% were Christian, 11.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (3.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 93 (32.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 9 people (3.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 108 (37.9%) people were employed full-time, 48 (16.8%) were part-time, and 33 (11.6%) were unemployed.

### Kaingaroa-Whakarewarewa statistical area

Kaingaroa-Whakarewarewa statistical area, which also includes Lake Ōkareka and Lake Tarawera, covers 465.82 km$^2$ (179.85 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,990 as of June 2023, with a population density of 4.3 people per km$^2$.
Kaingaroa-Whakarewarewa had a population of 1,887 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.3%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (−0.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 690 households, comprising 975 males and 912 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 402 people (21.3%) aged under 15 years, 324 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 903 (47.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 261 (13.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 76.5% European/Pākehā, 32.6% Māori, 2.5% Pacific peoples, 2.1% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 14.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.8% had no religion, 31.2% were Christian, 3.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.1% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 336 (22.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 243 (16.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 312 people (21.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 771 (51.9%) people were employed full-time, 264 (17.8%) were part-time, and 48 (3.2%) were unemployed.

## Marae

Te Huingawaka Marae is local meeting ground for the Tūhoe hapū of Ngāti Kaingaroa and Nga Tipuna O Te Motu. The marae building is a former cookhouse.
In October 2020, the Government committed $461,159 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating 8 jobs.

## Education

Kaingaroa Forest School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students living in the forest area, with a roll of 32 as of August 2024.

## Climate

Climate data for Kaingaroa Village, elevation 544 m (1,785 ft), (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1951–1999) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) | 30.7 (87.3) | 29.0 (84.2) | 26.2 (79.2) | 23.7 (74.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 17.8 (64.0) | 17.8 (64.0) | 23.4 (74.1) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 29.4 (84.9) | 31.7 (89.1) |
| Mean maximum °C (°F) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.4 (79.5) | 23.4 (74.1) | 20.1 (68.2) | 17.6 (63.7) | 14.7 (58.5) | 13.3 (55.9) | 14.3 (57.7) | 16.6 (61.9) | 20.0 (68.0) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 27.8 (82.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.6 (70.9) | 21.6 (70.9) | 19.6 (67.3) | 16.5 (61.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 10.9 (51.6) | 10.3 (50.5) | 11.2 (52.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 15.5 (59.9) | 18.0 (64.4) | 20.1 (68.2) | 16.0 (60.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) | 16.3 (61.3) | 14.1 (57.4) | 11.1 (52.0) | 8.4 (47.1) | 6.4 (43.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 6.5 (43.7) | 8.4 (47.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 12.4 (54.3) | 14.8 (58.6) | 10.9 (51.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.5 (50.9) | 10.9 (51.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 5.7 (42.3) | 3.6 (38.5) | 2.0 (35.6) | 1.1 (34.0) | 1.7 (35.1) | 3.3 (37.9) | 5.4 (41.7) | 6.9 (44.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 5.8 (42.4) |
| Mean minimum °C (°F) | 3.3 (37.9) | 3.9 (39.0) | −0.1 (31.8) | −2.1 (28.2) | −3.3 (26.1) | −4.6 (23.7) | −4.9 (23.2) | −4.7 (23.5) | −3.2 (26.2) | −0.8 (30.6) | 0.6 (33.1) | 2.8 (37.0) | −5.8 (21.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 0.2 (32.4) | 0.8 (33.4) | −6.0 (21.2) | −4.8 (23.4) | −7.0 (19.4) | −7.7 (18.1) | −9.4 (15.1) | −7.3 (18.9) | −5.6 (21.9) | −5.8 (21.6) | −1.9 (28.6) | −0.8 (30.6) | −9.4 (15.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 90.6 (3.57) | 91.2 (3.59) | 119.3 (4.70) | 136.9 (5.39) | 113.5 (4.47) | 148.8 (5.86) | 142.2 (5.60) | 109.8 (4.32) | 139.3 (5.48) | 109.7 (4.32) | 94.5 (3.72) | 119.7 (4.71) | 1,415.5 (55.73) |
| Source: NIWA (rain 1991–2020) ||||||||||||||