The settlement includes Tuahiwi Marae, a marae (tribal meeting ground) of Ngāi Tahu and its Te Ngāi o Tūāhuriri Rūnanga branch. The marae includes the Māhunui II wharenui (meeting house).[4][5]
History
Pre-European
The land on which Tuahiwi was founded was originally a Ngāi Tūahuriri hapū of Ngāi Tahupā site.[6] With European settlement, the site was reserved for Māori in 1848 by Walter Mantell following the signing of Kemp's Deed.[7] In 1831, prior to European settlement, the pa had been attacked by Te Rauparaha. The attack was a revenge raid (utu) and the pa returned to the Ngāi Tūahuriri when the attackers left.
Development
There was a meeting house on the site in 1870 that almost burnt down.[8] Significant developments included the establishment of a Māori mission which included a church built in 1867 with its foundation stone having been laid by Governor George Grey on his visit to the settlement.[9]
In 1890 Tuahiwi was described as having a neat village of Maori residences. The old whares had been replaced by more substantial fenced cottages with gardens. A school, church (St Stephens), and meeting hall were in the centre of the township and there was a flagpole in front of the meeting hall. The Maori Land Court used the hall from time to time.[10]
Events
In 1900 the Tuahiwi hall was used as a base by D Company of the 1st North Canterbury Mounted Rifle Battalion, a volunteer unit.[11] The Mounted Rifles included Tuahiwi Maori who on being refused permission to fight in the Second Boer War protested to the Premier Richard Seddon in 1901.[12][13]
Te Wai Pounamu College for Māori girls was founded there in 1909. It relocated to Christchurch.[3]
Demographics
The Tuahiwi statistical area covers 22.71 km2 (8.77 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 1,010 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 44 people per km2.
Tuahiwi had a population of 945 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 18 people (−1.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 87 people (10.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 318 households, comprising 483 males and 462 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 156 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 189 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 465 (49.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 132 (14.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 85.7% European/Pākehā, 23.2% Māori, 1.9% Pasifika, 1.9% Asian, and 1.9% 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, 58.7% had no religion, 29.2% were Christian, 2.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Muslim and 1.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (13.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 150 (19.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 126 people (16.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 432 (54.8%) people were employed full-time, 123 (15.6%) were part-time, and 24 (3.0%) were unemployed.[15]
Tuahiwi School
Education
Tuahiwi School is a full primary state school, covering years 1 to 8, with 173 students (as of April 2023).[16][17] The school is bilingual, offering students a choice of tuition in Māori-language or English education.[18]
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