Kaimanawa Range

The statistical area of Kaimanawa, which covers 1,342 square kilometres, has a very low population resulting in some odd figures in the census results. The area had a population of 180 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 174 people (2900.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 123 people (215.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 0 households. There were 177 males and 0 females. The median age was 47.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with no people aged under 15 years, 27 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 126 (70.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (16.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 60.0% European/Pākehā, 48.3% Māori, 5.0% Pacific peoples, 1.7% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 8.3%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 45.0% had no religion, 31.7% were Christian, and 13.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (5.0%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 51 (28.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $1,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 42 (23.3%) people were employed full-time, 36 (20.0%) were part-time, and 9 (5.0%) were unemployed.[4]

Kaimanawa wall

Within the Kaimanawa State Forest area is the Kaimanawa Wall.[5][6]

The Tuwharetoa tangata whenua claim an “oral tradition” of the place as a kōhatu (rock).[5] A popular theory is that the wall is a human construction.[5] From that popular theory, a pseudoscience theory explains the wall as a pre-Māori civilization artifact.[5]

The wall formation was inspected by an anthropologist and a geologist; neither saw evidence of a human origin. In a preliminary investigation, anthropologist Neville Ritchie of the New Zealand Department of Conservation, observed "matching micro-irregularities along the joints." This indicated that the blocks in the wall were too perfectly matched. He also observed the joints were neither straight nor truly horizontal nor perpendicular, indicating the joint alignments were too poorly constructed.

Ritchie concluded the blocks are a natural formation based on the presence of matching micro-irregularities in blocks and imperfect joint alignment.[5]

Peter Wood, of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences at Wairakei, inspected the blocks for an afternoon and concluded they are natural fractures in what Wood termed "Jointed-Rangitaiki-Ignimbrite," and described as "330,000 year old volcanic rock that is common in the Taupo Volcanic Zone."[5] Both vertical and horizontal joints are common. Fractures in the Rangitaiki ignimbrite formed when it cooled and contracted after flowing into place during an eruption.[5]