Himatangi
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Himatangi is a small settlement in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located at the junction of State Highways 1 and 56, 25 kilometres west of Palmerston North, and seven kilometres east of the coastal settlement of Himatangi Beach.
The area has two marae:
- Motuiti Marae and its Rakau or Paewai meeting house is affiliated with the Rangitāne hapū of Ngāti Mairehau and the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Rākau.
- Paranui Marae and its Turanga meeting house is affiliated with the Ngāti Raukawa hapū of Ngāti Te Au and Ngāti Tūranga.<ref name="tkmentry">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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About 50 Māori land blocks are located between Himatangi and Foxton to the south.<ref name="maoriland">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
History
The area was largely undeveloped with rough terrain in 1942, according to a photograph held in the National Library of New Zealand.<ref name="aerialmapping">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Himatangi was once the location of the junction between the New Zealand Railways Department's Foxton Branch railway and the Manawatu County Council's Sanson Tramway. Both lines are now closed; use of the Tramway ceased in 1945, followed by the Branch in 1959.
In 2005, a study found agricultural pesticides were being rapidly leached into the sandy soil at Himatangi.<ref name="mclose">Template:Cite journal</ref>
In 2009, planning approval was granted for the building of a piggery after the landowner agreed to reduce from what he originally proposed.<ref name="piggery">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2014, the community was used as a trial community for the Horizons Regional Council's emergency readiness plan. The landowner and New Zealand Pork Board had been considering legal action through the Environment Court.<ref name="civildefence">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2019 a regional bus service between Levin and Palmerston North was introduced, providing a weekly return service between Himatangi and Foxton.<ref name="busservice">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Demographics
Oroua Downs statistical area, which also includes Himatangi Beach and Tangimoana, covers Template:Convert<ref name="Area">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and had an estimated population of Template:NZ population data 2023 SA2 as of Template:NZ population data 2023 SA2 with a population density of Template:Decimals people per km2.
Template:Historical populations Oroua Downs had a population of 1,254 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 210 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 87 people (7.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 540 households, comprising 642 males and 612 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 48.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 207 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 192 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 606 (48.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 249 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.8% European/Pākehā, 16.0% Māori, 1.9% Pacific peoples, 2.9% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 10.0, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 57.7% had no religion, 26.8% were Christian, 0.7% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% were Hindu and 2.9% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 120 (11.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 327 (31.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 123 people (11.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 477 (45.6%) people were employed full-time, 147 (14.0%) were part-time, and 42 (4.0%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">Template:NZ census 2018</ref>
Education
Oroua Downs School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="moe">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with a roll of Template:NZ school roll data as of Template:NZ school roll data.<ref name="ero">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>