Uruti Explained

Uruti
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:New Zealand
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Taranaki Region
Subdivision Type2:Territorial authority
Subdivision Name2:New Plymouth District
Subdivision Type3:Ward
Subdivision Type4:Community
Subdivision Name4:Clifton Community
Seat Type:Electorates
Leader Title:Territorial Authority
Leader Name:New Plymouth District Council
Leader Title1:Regional council
Leader Name1:Taranaki Regional Council
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:-38.9444°N 174.5283°W

Uruti is a locality in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3, north-east of Mimi and south-west of Ahititi. The Uruti Stream meets the Mimi River at this point. The river flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.[1] [2]

A district nurse was appointed to serve the backblocks of the Uruti Valley in 1909. This was the first district nursing service in New Zealand.[3] [4]

The Uruti tunnel links the Uruti Valley with the main highway. It was completed in 1923 and is the longest and most unstable tunnel in Taranaki.[5]

The 1984 film Vigil was filmed at Uruti.[6] Much of the 2003 film The Last Samurai was filmed in the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki/Egmont standing in for Mount Fuji.[7]

Demographics

Mount Messenger statistical area, which includes the localities of Mimi, Uruti, Ahititi and Tongapōrutu, covers 934.28km2[8] and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.

Mount Messenger had a population of 864 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (5.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 108 people (14.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 309 households, comprising 441 males and 423 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 216 people (25.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 420 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.2% European/Pākehā, 22.6% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.9% had no religion, 32.3% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (51.4%) people were employed full-time, 117 (18.1%) were part-time, and 21 (3.2%) were unemployed.

Education

Uruti School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of students as of The school celebrated its centennial in 1998.[9]

Further reading

General historical works

Business

Schools

Notes and References

  1. Book: Reed New Zealand Atlas. 2004. 0-7900-0952-8. Peter Dowling . Reed Books. map 35.
  2. Book: The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. 2005. 1-877333-20-4. Roger Smith, GeographX. Robbie Burton. map 74.
  3. Book: Maclean, Hester. Nursing in New Zealand: History and Reminiscences. 1932. XVI. Back-Block District Nursing. 86–87.
  4. Encyclopedia: MACLEAN, Hester, R.R.C.. Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  5. Web site: Road Tunnels of Taranaki. Puke Ariki. Rhonda. Bartle. 17 February 2005. 16 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080517165709/http://www.pukeariki.com/en/stories/newTaranakiStories/taratunnels.htm. 17 May 2008. dead. dmy-all.
  6. Encyclopedia: Vigil film set. .
  7. Web site: The Last Samurai New Zealand Film Location . . 2008-07-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081120094617/http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/features/last-samurai-feature/last-samurai-feature-home.cfm . 20 November 2008 .
  8. Web site: ArcGIS Web Application. 27 December 2023. statsnz.maps.arcgis.com.
  9. Jubilees & reunions: Uruti School. Education Gazette New Zealand. 75. 17. 30 September 1996.