| Towai | |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Northland Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Far North District |
| Subdivision Type3: | Ward |
| Subdivision Name3: | Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward |
| Subdivision Type4: | Community |
| Subdivision Name4: | Bay of Islands-Whangaroa |
| Subdivision Type5: | Subdivision |
| Subdivision Name5: | Russell-Ōpua |
| Leader Title: | Territorial Authority |
| Leader Name: | Far North District Council |
| Leader Title1: | Regional council |
| Leader Name1: | Northland Regional Council |
| Leader Title2: | Mayor of Far North |
| Leader Title3: | Northland MP |
| Leader Title4: | Te Tai Tokerau MP |
| Seat Type: | Electorates |
| Coordinates: | -35.4944°N 174.1317°W |
Towai (mi|Tōwai) is a locality in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. State Highway 1 passes through it. Kawakawa is 16 km northwest, and Whakapara is 17 km southeast.[1] [2] The North Auckland Line passes through Towai.[3]
Towai Primary School closed in January 2005, with students moving to Maromaku School.[4]
The local hapū is Ngāti Hau of Ngāpuhi.[5] The local Akerama Marae and Huiarau or Ruapekapeka meeting house is a meeting place for the hapū.[6]
Towai is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 40.27km2.[7] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Maromaku statistical area.[7]
The SA1 statistical areas had a population of 279 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (17.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (32.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 132 males and 144 females in 84 dwellings.[8] 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 69 people (24.7%) aged under 15 years, 57 (20.4%) aged 15 to 29, 120 (43.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (11.8%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.1% European (Pākehā); 47.3% Māori; 3.2% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 5.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 6.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.6%, Māori language by 11.8%, and other languages by 6.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 9.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 35.5% Christian, and 1.1% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 51.6%, and 10.8% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (10.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 141 (67.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 42 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 9 people (4.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 105 (50.0%) people were employed full-time, 30 (14.3%) were part-time, and 6 (2.9%) were unemployed.[9]