Pukehangi

In 2017, Rotorua District Council identified Pukehangi as a key area for future residential development.[2] An 89-section subdivision and a 33-section subdivsion were both announced that year.[3] More sections were due to become available in 2019.[4]

In December 2018, landowners of farmland west of the suburb sought planning consent to develop new residential areas.[5] The plan change was approved by the Rotorua District Council and Ministry for the Environment during 2019.[6][7] It was opened up it to public submissions in January 2020.[7]

In 2019, a Pukehangi rental home was the subject of a 7-month legal dispute between a landlord and tenant, which ended with the High Court terminating the tenancy.[8]

Pukehangi, comprising the statistical areas of Pukehangi North and Pukehangi South, had a population of 5,277 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 390 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 336 people (6.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,758 households. There were 2,496 males and 2,778 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.9 males per female, with 1,362 people (25.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,080 (20.5%) aged 15 to 29, 2,151 (40.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 684 (13.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 65.5% European/Pākehā, 44.7% Māori, 5.7% Pacific peoples, 5.9% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 13.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.6% had no religion, 34.8% were Christian, 1.0% were Hindu, 0.5% were Buddhist and 3.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 528 (13.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 861 (22.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,911 (48.8%) people were employed full-time, 576 (14.7%) were part-time, and 285 (7.3%) were unemployed.[1]