Takamatua, with an initial European name of German Bay, is a small town situated in Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand. The main road to Akaroa (State Highway 75) passes through this locality. It is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Akaroa township.[3]
History
At the time of French settlement in August 1840 in Akaroa, a small number of German families settled in this bay.[4] Five German men, four of them single, chose to have land in Takamatua rather than Akaroa. The men were Breitmeyer, Hahn, Hettich, Waeckerle, Walther and Woll. [5] The bay was named German Bay up until 1916 when the residents called on the Minister for Internal Affairs, George Warren Russell, to change the name to Takamatua, as a patriotic reaction to World War I.[6] The German Bay Dairy Co-operative Factory was established in 1893.[7] The Factory's cheese won first prize at the Dunedin Agricultural Show in 1901 and 1902.[7][8]
Demographics
Takamatua is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 6.30 km2 (2.43 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 17 people per km2. It is part of the statistical area of Akaroa Harbour.[9]
Takamatua Co-operative Dairy Factory on Takamatua Valley RoadGerman Bay Co-operative Dairy Factory in 1903
Takamatua had a population of 111 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−17.8%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 45 households, comprising 57 males and 54 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 61.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (10.8%) aged under 15 years, 3 (2.7%) aged 15 to 29, 54 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (37.8%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 94.6% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 5.4% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.2% had no religion, 37.8% were Christian, 5.4% had Māori religious beliefs, and 2.7% were Buddhist.
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 18 (18.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9 people (9.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 36 (36.4%) people were employed full-time, and 24 (24.2%) were part-time.[10]
