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Ruatoria
Ruatoria (Māori: Ruatōria) is a town in the Waiapu Valley of the Gisborne Region in the northeastern corner of New Zealand's North Island. The town was originally known as Cross Roads then Manutahi and was later named Ruatorea in 1913, after the Māori Master female grower Tōrea who had some of the finest storage pits in her Iwi at the time (Te-Rua-a-Tōrea). In 1925 the name was altered to "Ruatoria", although some texts retain the original spelling.
Ruatoria's Whakarua Park is the home of the East Coast Rugby Football Union.
Stats NZ describes Ruatoria as a rural settlement, which covers 13.19 km2 (5.09 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 910 as of June 2025, with a population density of 69 people per km2. It is part of the larger Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area.
Ruatōria had a population of 876 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 117 people (15.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 156 people (21.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 435 males and 441 females in 237 dwellings. 0.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 29.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 270 people (30.8%) aged under 15 years, 177 (20.2%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (37.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 21.2% European (Pākehā), 94.2% Māori, 3.8% Pasifika, 1.4% Asian, and 0.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.5%, Māori by 44.2%, and other languages by 1.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 31.8% Christian, 5.8% Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.7%, and 11.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (9.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 351 (57.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 201 (33.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (2.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 201 (33.2%) full-time, 63 (10.4%) part-time, and 48 (7.9%) unemployed.
The town is known for its population of Maori Rastafarians.
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Ruatoria
Ruatoria (Māori: Ruatōria) is a town in the Waiapu Valley of the Gisborne Region in the northeastern corner of New Zealand's North Island. The town was originally known as Cross Roads then Manutahi and was later named Ruatorea in 1913, after the Māori Master female grower Tōrea who had some of the finest storage pits in her Iwi at the time (Te-Rua-a-Tōrea). In 1925 the name was altered to "Ruatoria", although some texts retain the original spelling.
Ruatoria's Whakarua Park is the home of the East Coast Rugby Football Union.
Stats NZ describes Ruatoria as a rural settlement, which covers 13.19 km2 (5.09 sq mi). It had an estimated population of 910 as of June 2025, with a population density of 69 people per km2. It is part of the larger Ruatoria-Raukumara statistical area.
Ruatōria had a population of 876 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 117 people (15.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 156 people (21.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 435 males and 441 females in 237 dwellings. 0.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 29.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 270 people (30.8%) aged under 15 years, 177 (20.2%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (37.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (11.6%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 21.2% European (Pākehā), 94.2% Māori, 3.8% Pasifika, 1.4% Asian, and 0.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 93.5%, Māori by 44.2%, and other languages by 1.0%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 31.8% Christian, 5.8% Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% New Age, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 49.7%, and 11.0% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (9.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 351 (57.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 201 (33.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $24,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (2.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 201 (33.2%) full-time, 63 (10.4%) part-time, and 48 (7.9%) unemployed.
The town is known for its population of Maori Rastafarians.
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