Raurimu

Raurimu
T-rex sculpture made of driftwood
Coordinates: 39.124°S 175.392°E / -39.124; 175.392
Country	New Zealand
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
District	Ruapehu District
Ward	Ruapehu General Ward Ruapehu Māori Ward
Community	Ōwhango-National Park Community
Electorate	Rangitīkei
Government
• Territorial Authority	Ruapehu District Council
• Regional council	Horizons Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	0.88 km^2 (0.34 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	70
• Density	80/km^2 (210/sq mi)

Raurimu is a settlement in Ruapehu District, New Zealand. State Highway 4 passes through it, and the North Island Main Trunk railway line runs to the east.[3] The Raurimu Spiral, which allows the railway to climb 139 metres, is described as an engineering masterpiece by the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand.[4]

Raurimu railway station served the town from 1906 until its closure in 1978.[5]

A life-size driftwood sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex stands at the corner of Keitieke Road and State Highway 4.[6]

Demographics

Raurimu is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.88 km^2 (0.34 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 70 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 80 people per km^2. It is part of the larger National Park statistical area.[7]

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	63	—
2013	63	+0.00%
2018	69	+1.84%
Source: [8]

Raurimu had a population of 69 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (9.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (9.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 27 households, comprising 36 males and 30 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.2 males per female. The median age was 42.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 15 people (21.7%) aged under 15 years, 3 (4.3%) aged 15 to 29, 33 (47.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (21.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.7% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, and 4.3% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.9% had no religion, and 34.8% were Christian.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (22.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 12 (22.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9 people (16.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 27 (50.0%) people were employed full-time, and 9 (16.7%) were part-time.[8]

References

1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
2. "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. Harriss, Gavin (August 2022). Raurimu, Manawatu-Wanganui (Map). NZ Topo Map.
4. "Raurimu Spiral". IPENZ. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012.
5. Scoble, Juliet. "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand" (PDF).
6. Collis, Ashleigh (4 May 2018). "Making natural art out of driftwood". Horowhenua Chronicle.
7. 2018 Census place summary: National Park
8. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017609.