# Tangimoana

Tangimoana is a community in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It had a population of 303 permanent residents in 2018. It is located 15 kilometres southwest of Bulls, and 30 kilometres west of Palmerston North.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "weeping sea" for Tangimoana.
The settlement lies on the southern bank of the Rangitīkei River near the mouth. It was developed in 1920 as a holiday place for people from Palmerston North and other inland towns and sections sold from 1921.
The Boating Club has a licensed facility for members and their guests. A small corner store is open daily, it sells basic supplies as well as takeaway food.
Tangimoana is popular with those seeking an alternative lifestyle. Many residents are artists and once a year they hold an Art Festival to showcase their works along with Art and Craft Markets during the year in the McKelvie Hall.
On Saturday morning the McKelvie Hall is open to access the community library. The library consists of many donated books as well as books from the Feilding Library which are regularly changed.
Tangimoana has limited facilities and very few employment opportunities. Most residents travel to Palmerston North, Feilding or Levin for employment. The main attraction is the river and beach which are both peaceful and natural. It is a popular beach for horses and dogs. A four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to drive directly to the ocean.

## Demographics

Tangimoana is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.53 km$^2$ (0.20 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 340 as of June 2024, with a population density of 642 people per km$^2$. It is part of the larger Oroua Downs statistical area.
Tangimoana had a population of 300 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 72 people (31.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 24 people (8.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 144 households, comprising 159 males and 144 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.1 males per female, with 39 people (13.0%) aged under 15 years, 39 (13.0%) aged 15 to 29, 162 (54.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 63 (21.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 92.0% European/Pākehā, 19.0% Māori, 2.0% Pacific peoples, 1.0% Asian, and 1.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 65.0% had no religion, 19.0% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs and 2.0% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (9.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 102 (39.1%) people had no formal qualifications. 15 people (5.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 111 (42.5%) people were employed full-time, 33 (12.6%) were part-time, and 9 (3.4%) were unemployed.

## Education

Tangimoana School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 25 as of November 2024.
A bus service takes secondary school students into Palmerston North on weekdays. The Carnarvon bus was extended to Tangimoana in 1924.

## SIGINT facility

The New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a radio communications interception facility in the area; it is generally believed to be a signals intelligence, or SIGINT facility operating under umbrella of the ECHELON espionage network, under the auspices the UKUSA consortium of intelligent agencies.

## Flooding

Tangimoana faces a notably high risk of flooding. Horizons Regional Council discourages new houses being built in the settlement.
Tangimoana was among the most seriously affected communities in the 2004 flooding. Other notable floods were in 1882, 1897, 1917, 1936, 1958 and 1965. In 1944 and 1967 cuttings were made to divert the river away from the village, and stopbanks were built and extended in 2010. The cuttings to shorten the river can be seen on the maps from 1928 to 2018.

## Tawhirihoe Scientific Reserve

A Department of Conservation reserve aims to conserve remnants of the dune and wetland ecosystems in the estuary. Plants include the Nationally Critical dune plant, Pimelea actea. Despite attempts to keep motor vehicles off the dunes, damage is still being done.

## Climate

Climate data for Tangimoana (1981–2010) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.1 (71.8) | 22.5 (72.5) | 21.2 (70.2) | 18.5 (65.3) | 15.9 (60.6) | 13.6 (56.5) | 12.9 (55.2) | 13.7 (56.7) | 15.1 (59.2) | 16.3 (61.3) | 18.3 (64.9) | 20.6 (69.1) | 17.6 (63.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 16.1 (61.0) | 13.6 (56.5) | 11.3 (52.3) | 9.3 (48.7) | 8.3 (46.9) | 9.1 (48.4) | 10.9 (51.6) | 12.3 (54.1) | 13.9 (57.0) | 16.2 (61.2) | 13.0 (55.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.9 (55.2) | 12.7 (54.9) | 11.0 (51.8) | 8.6 (47.5) | 6.7 (44.1) | 4.9 (40.8) | 3.7 (38.7) | 4.4 (39.9) | 6.6 (43.9) | 8.3 (46.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 11.8 (53.2) | 8.4 (47.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 63 (2.5) | 57 (2.2) | 66 (2.6) | 63 (2.5) | 83 (3.3) | 82 (3.2) | 90 (3.5) | 78 (3.1) | 71 (2.8) | 72 (2.8) | 61 (2.4) | 85 (3.3) | 871 (34.2) |
| Source: NIWA (rainfall 1961–1990) ||||||||||||||