Manawaru

The Waihou-Manawaru statistical area, which at 141 square kilometres is much larger than this community, had a population of 1,209 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (6.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 39 people (3.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 429 households. There were 627 males and 582 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.08 males per female. The median age was 39.9 years, with 264 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 201 (16.6%) aged 15 to 29, 552 (45.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 186 (15.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.4% European/Pākehā, 12.7% Māori, 3.0% Pacific peoples, 6.5% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 14.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 56.3% had no religion, 29.8% were Christian, 0.5% were Hindu, 0.0% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 4.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (9.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 285 (30.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $33,800. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 480 (50.8%) people were employed full-time, 168 (17.8%) were part-time, and 33 (3.5%) were unemployed.[1]

In 1897, the New Zealand Dairy Association established Te Aroha creamery under the leadership of former Cornish bricklayer Samuel Whitburn. Two years later, Whitburn relocated the operation to Manawaru.[6]

The Manawaru Creamery was able to process up to 500 gallons per hour. By the 1900 dairy season it had fifteen suppliers and was processing the milk of about 400 cows. Cream was sent every day to Te Aroha railway station, where it was transported to Ngāruawāhia.[7]

In 1902, Manawaru was an established farming community receiving bi-weekly mail.[8] One of the settlers at this time, Henry Osborne, was born in Geelong and had lived in various places in Victoria, New South Wales and Waikato before he started farming in Manawaru in 1900.[9]

There is a Roll of Honour at the Manawarū Hall to commemorate the 54 local men who served overseas during the Second World War.[10] It also includes a wooden tablet inset with the photographs of the four local men who died in action.[11]

Manawaru School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[3] with a roll of 85 as of March 2020.[12]

The school was established in 1900 and celebrated its 75th jubilee in 1975.[10]