Uruti

Uruti
The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township
The Uturi Stream, which runs next to the township
Map
Coordinates: 38°56′40″S 174°31′42″E / 38.94444°S 174.52833°E / -38.94444; 174.52833
CountryNew Zealand
RegionTaranaki Region
Territorial authorityNew Plymouth District
Ward
  • North General Ward
  • Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
CommunityClifton Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityNew Plymouth District Council
 • Regional councilTaranaki Regional Council

Uruti is a locality in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3, north-east of Mimi and south-west of Ahititi. The Uruti Stream meets the Mimi River at this point. The river flows past the settlement into the North Taranaki Bight.[1][2]

A district nurse was appointed to serve the backblocks of the Uruti Valley in 1909. This was the first district nursing service in New Zealand.[3][4]

The Uruti tunnel links the Uruti Valley with the main highway. It was completed in 1923 and is the longest and most unstable tunnel in Taranaki.[5]

The 1984 film Vigil was filmed at Uruti.[6] Much of the 2003 film The Last Samurai was filmed in the Uruti Valley, with Mount Taranaki/Egmont standing in for Mount Fuji.[7]

Demographics

Mount Messenger statistical area, which includes the localities of Mimi, Uruti, Ahititi and Tongapōrutu, covers 934.28 km2 (360.73 sq mi)[8] and had an estimated population of 930 as of June 2024,[9] with a population density of 1.0 people per km2.

Historical population for Mount Messenger
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006756—    
2013822+1.20%
2018864+1.00%
Source: [10]

Mount Messenger had a population of 864 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 42 people (5.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 108 people (14.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 309 households, comprising 441 males and 423 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 42.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 216 people (25.0%) aged under 15 years, 117 (13.5%) aged 15 to 29, 420 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 111 (12.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 88.2% European/Pākehā, 22.6% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 2.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 9.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 54.9% had no religion, 32.3% were Christian, 1.0% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 75 (11.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 162 (25.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $30,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (12.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 333 (51.4%) people were employed full-time, 117 (18.1%) were part-time, and 21 (3.2%) were unemployed.[10]

Education

Uruti School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 10 students as of August 2024.[11][12] The school celebrated its centennial in 1998.[13]

Notes

  1. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 35. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  2. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 74. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. ^ Maclean, Hester (1932). "XVI. Back-Block District Nursing". Nursing in New Zealand: History and Reminiscences. pp. 86–87.
  4. ^ "MACLEAN, Hester, R.R.C.". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  5. ^ Bartle, Rhonda (17 February 2005). "Road Tunnels of Taranaki". Puke Ariki. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Vigil film set". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  7. ^ "The Last Samurai New Zealand Film Location". Tourism New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  8. ^ "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  9. ^ "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Mount Messenger (219200). 2018 Census place summary: Mount Messenger
  11. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  12. ^ Education Counts: Uruti School
  13. ^ "Jubilees & reunions: Uruti School". Education Gazette New Zealand. 75 (17). 30 September 1996.[permanent dead link‍]

Further reading

General historical works

  • Brooks, Glenwyss (comp.) (1995). How green was our valley: collected memories of Uruti. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Aries Print. ISBN 0-473-02685-6.

Business

  • 1904-1954, golden jubilee / with the compliments of the Uruti Valley Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Avery Print. 1954.

Schools

  • Uruti School 60th jubilee: in conjunction with Messenger, Musker’s, Pehu: 16th-18th May 1958. Uruti, [N.Z.]; New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Jubilee Committee, 1958; Taranaki Daily News Co. Ltd. 1958.
  • Wilson, Christine; Brooks, Glenwyss (comps.). Uruti School, 1898-1998: in celebration of 100 years. New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Uruti School Centennial Committee. ISBN 0473059207.