Whangamōmona
Whangamōmona | |
|---|---|
 Whangamomona Hotel | |
 Seal | |
 | |
| Coordinates: 39°08′41″S 174°44′09″E / 39.14472°S 174.73583°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū–Whanganui region |
| Territorial authority | Stratford District |
| Ward |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Stratford District Council |
| • Regional council | Horizons Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Stratford | Neil Volzke[1] |
| • Taranaki-King Country MP | Barbara Kuriger[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
Whangamōmona is a township in the Stratford District and Manawatū–Whanganui Region of New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the "Forgotten World Highway", 65 kilometres (40 mi) north-east of Stratford and 55 kilometres (34 mi) south-west of Ōhura. By rail it is 61 kilometres (38 mi) from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.[4]
Demographics
[edit]Whangamōmona statistical area covers 689.60 km2 (266.26 sq mi)[5] and had an estimated population of 170 as of June 2025,[6] with a population density of 0.25 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 168 | — |
| 2013 | 150 | −1.61% |
| 2018 | 126 | −3.43% |
| 2023 | 159 | +4.76% |
| Source: [7][8] | ||
Whangamōmona had a population of 159 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 33 people (26.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 9 people (6.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 90 males and 69 females in 66 dwellings.[9] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 33 people (20.8%) aged under 15 years, 18 (11.3%) aged 15 to 29, 75 (47.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (20.8%) aged 65 or older.[7]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.5% European (Pākehā), 20.8% Māori, 5.7% Asian, and 5.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, and Māori by 3.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]
Religious affiliations were 26.4% Christian, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.4%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.[7]
Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (9.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 75 (59.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 42 (33.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $22,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 6 people (4.8%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 60 (47.6%) full-time, 15 (11.9%) part-time, and 12 (9.5%) unemployed.[7]
History
[edit]
The first European settlers arrived in 1895, with the town proper established two years later.[10] Growth of the town was seriously affected by the deaths of 51 men (including some from the smaller nearby settlements of Kohuratahi and Tahora)[11] in the First World War and a major flood in 1924.[10] The town recovered with arrival of the railway line in 1933 and electrification in 1959, but its population declined in subsequent decades.[10] The school closed in 1979, followed nine years later by the post office.[10]
In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Whangamōmona by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[12]
Republic Day
[edit]In 1989, regional council boundaries were redrawn, with an emphasis on connected catchments. These revised maps made Whangamōmona part of the then-Manawatu-Wanganui Region since the Whangamōmona River is a tributary of the Whanganui River. Residents objected, as they wanted to continue being part of the Taranaki Region, and on 1 November 1989, they responded by declaring themselves the "Republic of Whangamomona" at the first Republic Day. Though the move began as a pointed protest, the town continued to hold a celebratory Republic Day once a year, during which a vote for president was held. The day has become a local festival day, and attracts visitors from throughout the North Island. In 2001, the celebration became biennial, held in January to take advantage of the summer weather.[13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Election Results". Stratford District Council. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ^ "Taranaki-King Country - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ "Te Tai Hauāuru - Official Result". Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p. 506.
- ^ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ^ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Whangamomona (220200). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Whangamomona (220200). 2018 Census place summary: Whangamōmona
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d Stratford Press: Two decades and counting in Whangamomona
- ^ "War Memorial Cenotaph: Ohura Rd, Kohuratahi" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ^ "Notice of approved official geographic names" (PDF). New Zealand Gazette. 16 July 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "WHANGAMOMONA". New Zealand Geographic. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Whangamomona President sees off all challengers". Radio New Zealand. 21 January 2019.
Further reading
[edit]- Opening of the road to Aotuhia: tour of the Stratford County hill country, organised by the Stratford County and the Dept. of Land and Survey (New Plymouth), Stratford, [N.Z.]: Stratford County Council, 1985
- Church, Ian N. (1990), The Stratford inheritance: a history of Stratford and the Whangamomona counties, Waikanae, [N.Z.]: Heritage Press, ISBN 0-908708-17-3
- Garcia, James (1940), History of Whangamomona County: published by the Whangamomona Centennial Celebrations Committee as a centennial memorial and dedicated to the pioneer settlers of the district, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Whangamomona Centennial Celebrations Committee
