| Pakowhai | |
| Settlement Type: | Settlement |
| Coordinates: | -39.5813°N 176.867°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | New Zealand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Hawke's Bay Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | Territorial authority |
| Subdivision Name2: | Hastings District |
| Subdivision Type3: | Ward |
| Seat Type: | Electorates |
| Leader Title: | Territorial Authority |
| Leader Name: | Hastings District Council |
| Leader Title1: | Regional council |
| Leader Name1: | Hawke's Bay Regional Council |
| Population As Of: | 2018 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode(s) |
| Postal Code: | 4183 |
Pakowhai is a small settlement in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is a located between Napier and Hastings, north of the Ngaruroro River.[1]
Mission Estate Winery established its first vineyard in Hawke's Bay at Pakowhai in 1851.[2]
The Pakowhai Regional Park is located on the river's south bank. It is a country park,[3] with dog-walking areas and agility features.[4] It hosts community planting days,[5] and attracts kākā from inland mountains.[6]
A new petrol station was controversially proposed for the area in 2019.[7]
Pakowhai was inundated by flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 after the Ngaruroro River burst its banks. Dozen of houses were destroyed. [8]
Omahu-Pakowhai statistical area, which includes Omahu, covers 57.13km2[9] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Before the 2023 census, the statistical area had a smaller boundary, covering 45.78km2.[9] Using that boundary, Omahu-Pakowhai had a population of 1,434 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 342 people (31.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 273 people (23.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 429 households, comprising 774 males and 660 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 39.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 276 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 282 (19.7%) aged 15 to 29, 666 (46.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 210 (14.6%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 61.9% European/Pākehā, 37.9% Māori, 8.6% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.3% had no religion, 38.1% were Christian, 6.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.8% were Hindu, 0.6% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 174 (15.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 240 (20.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $27,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. 159 people (13.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 648 (56.0%) people were employed full-time, 195 (16.8%) were part-time, and 51 (4.4%) were unemployed.
Pakowhai School is a Year 1-6 co-educational state primary school, with a roll of as of [10] The school was established in 1895.[11]