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Pākaraka

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Coordinates: 39°49′16″S 174°51′42″E / 39.821030°S 174.861786°E / -39.821030; 174.861786
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Not to be confused with the locality in Northland, Pakaraka.

Pākaraka
Church in Pākaraka
Church in Pākaraka
Map
Interactive map of Pākaraka
Coordinates: 39°49′16″S 174°51′42″E / 39.821030°S 174.861786°E / -39.821030; 174.861786
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictWhanganui District
CommunityWhanganui Rural Community
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWhanganui District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Mayor of WhanganuiAndrew Tripe[1]
 • Whanganui MPCarl Bates[2]
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer[3]
Area
[5]
 • Total
58.24 km2 (22.49 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)[4]
 • Total
192
 • Density3.30/km2 (8.54/sq mi)

Pākaraka, previously known as Okehu, Maxwelltown, and most recently Maxwell,[6][7][8] is a farming and lifestyle community 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Whanganui, on the North Island of New Zealand.

Toponymy

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Local Māori knew the area as Pākaraka ("an abundance of karaka trees").[7] Europeans first settled the area in the mid-1800s;[9] they named the settlement "Maxwelltown", after Sergeant George Maxwell.[10] Maxwell's actions in this location during Tītokowaru's War were described by Colonel George Stoddart Whitmore as follows:[11]

I wish particularly to mention the extreme gallantry of Sergt G. Maxwell of the Kai Iwi Cavalry, who himself sabred two and shot one of the enemy...

This report omitted that the party that was attacked was made up of children aged between six and twelve who were out pig hunting.[10]

In 1883, George William Rusden published a three-volume History of New Zealand, with many passages which distressed colonialists.[12] One such passage asserted that Lieutenant John Bryce and Sergeant G. Maxwell had dashed upon women and children at Nukumara and had ‘cut them down gleefully and with ease’.[13] At the time of publication, Bryce was Minister for Native Affairs. Bryce sued Rusden for libel in the High Court in London, winning his case on the grounds that, although he was in command of Sergeant Maxwell at the time of the killings, he did not personally participate in the killings and there were no women among the victims.[14] Rusden's history was suppressed. Bryce was awarded £5,000 in damages, a vast sum at that time.[15]

The area was known as Maxwelltown until 1927, and then just Maxwell.[6] In 2020, the local hapū—Ngā Rauru—partnered with Whanganui District Council to have the name of Maxwell changed.[16]

History

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The area in the 1960s offered good pig hunting sites due to the local heavy scrub. The town offers a range of activities, such as the local art gallery (Black Sands Studio), the church, swimming pool, and the newly renovated Birch Park Pool, which is situated towards the Taranaki. The area is heavily forested. Maxwell beach is a popular attraction as well; many come to see the small waterfall that runs from the farmland to the shore.

Demographics

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Pākaraka locality covers 58.24 km2 (22.49 sq mi).[5] It is part of the larger Mowhanau statistical area.[17]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006192—    
2013189−0.22%
2018147−4.90%
2023192+5.49%
Source: [4][18]

Pākaraka had a population of 192 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 45 people (30.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 3 people (1.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 102 males and 90 females in 66 dwellings.[19] 4.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 45 people (23.4%) aged under 15 years, 33 (17.2%) aged 15 to 29, 84 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (15.6%) aged 65 or older.[4]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.6% European (Pākehā), 17.2% Māori, 3.1% Asian, and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori by 3.1%, and other languages by 3.1%. No language could be spoken by 3.1% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.[4]

The only religious affiliation given was 28.1% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.6%, and 4.7% of people did not answer the census question.[4]

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (20.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 78 (53.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 36 (24.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 9 people (6.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 78 (53.1%) full-time, 24 (16.3%) part-time, and 3 (2.0%) unemployed.[4]

Culture

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The local Pākaraka Marae and Te Whānau Pani II and III meeting houses are traditional meeting places for the Ngā Rauru hapū of Ngāti Maika II.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Whanganui - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7017653. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  6. ^ a b Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. ISBN 9780143204107.
  7. ^ a b Tahana, Jamie (19 February 2022). "Pākaraka name returns to Whanganui village". RNZ. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  8. ^ Martin, Robin (25 January 2023). "Pākaraka signs marking Whanganui village destroyed hours after being installed". RNZ. Stuff. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Maxwell". Wanganui District Council. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  10. ^ a b Kerr, Bob (12 October 2020). "The Intersection: The story of a massacre". The Spinoff. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Smart engagement at Nukumaru". The Wanganui Herald. Vol. II, no. 466. 28 November 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Rusden's History of New Zealand". The New Zealand Herald. 4 August 1883. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  13. ^ Rusden, George W. (1883). History of New Zealand, Vol. 2. Melbourne: Chapman and Hall Ltd. pp. 504–5.
  14. ^ Kelly, Emma Jean. "Te Tangata Kōhuru: The Murderous Man". NZ History: Te Akomanga. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  15. ^ "George Rusden". NZ History: Biographies. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  16. ^ Stowell, Laurel (5 August 2020). "Whanganui District councillors partner with iwi on name change for Maxwell". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 12 October 2020.(subscription required)
  17. ^ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  18. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7017653.
  19. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  21. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
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