Ruapehu District


Ruapehu District is a territorial authority in the centre of New Zealand's North Island.
It has an area of 6,730 square kilometers and the district's population in was.

Features

The district is landlocked, and contains the western half of the Tongariro National Park, including Mount Ruapehu and the western sides of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro, as well as part of the Whanganui National Park. The district is also home to the world-famous Raurimu Spiral on the North Island Main Trunk railway line.
The tourist towns of Raetihi, Whakapapa Village, National Park and Ohakune are located near Mount Ruapehu in the south east of the district. Waiouru, with an elevation of 815 metres, is in the extreme south east of the district and houses the large Waiouru Army Camp. The southern section of the infamous Desert Road section of State Highway 1 runs through the east of the district, from Waiouru to Rangipo.

Demographics

Ruapehu District had a population of 12,309 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 465 people since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 1,263 people since the 2006 census. There were 4,617 households. There were 6,288 males and 6,021 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. Of the total population, 2,715 people were aged up to 15 years, 2,208 were 15 to 29, 5,454 were 30 to 64, and 1,932 were 65 or older. Figures may not add up to the total due to rounding.
Ethnicities were 68.8% European/Pākehā, 43.4% Māori, 2.8% Pacific peoples, 3.4% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.1% had no religion, 33.0% were Christian, and 7.7% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 1,026 people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 2,466 people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,300. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,719 people were employed full-time, 1,431 were part-time, and 483 were unemployed.

Local representation

Ruapehu District Council

The Ruapehu District Council was established by the 1989 local government reforms. It was formed from the Taumarunui Borough Council, Taumarunui County Council, Waimarino District Council and parts of the Rangitikei County, Taupo District, Waitomo District and Stratford District councils.
The council is made up of 12 elected councillors including a mayor and deputy mayor. The district is also served by 2 Community Boards and a Ward Committee with the same functions and powers as the Community Boards.

Mayor

The current mayor of the Ruapehu District is Don Cameron, with Karen Ngatai as the deputy mayor.

Council

Note:
♮ - The Taumarunui/Ohura Ward Committee is the community board for Taumarunui and Ohura Wards and the council has given it the same powers and functions as the community boards.