Pukete

Pukete, comprising the statistical areas of Pukete West and Pukete East, had a population of 4,605 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 309 people (7.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 108 people (2.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,539 households. There were 2,298 males and 2,307 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female, with 1,071 people (23.3%) aged under 15 years, 975 (21.2%) aged 15 to 29, 2,082 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 477 (10.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 77.4% European/Pākehā, 19.6% Māori, 4.9% Pacific peoples, 10.7% Asian, and 2.3% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 20.2%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 54.7% had no religion, 32.9% were Christian, 2.2% were Hindu, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.7% were Buddhist and 2.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 753 (21.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 549 (15.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,043 (57.8%) people were employed full-time, 477 (13.5%) were part-time, and 159 (4.5%) were unemployed.[3]

Individual census areas

Pukete includes two census areas, East[4] and West.[5] The population is stable and they are wealthier and younger than the 37.4 years of the national average, as shown below -

	East				West				National median income
Year	Population	Average age	Households	Median income	Population	Average age	Households	Median income
1996	2,409		777		1,980		618[6]
2001	2,409	33.2	801	$25,500	2,085	30.2	675	$24,100	$18,500
2006	2,397	33.3	810	$31,800	2,103	29.8	675	$29,900	$24,100
2013	2,280	35.8	816	$38,100	2,016	32.7	675	$32,900	$27,900[7]
2018	2,361	35	825	$40,600	2,244	32.2	717	$36,900	$31,800

In 2018 the main ethnic groups were -

Area	European	Māori	Asian
East	80.9%	15.1%	10.8%
West	73.7%	24.3%	10.7%

Pedestrian bridge over the Waikato at Pukete, built to carry sewage from the east side of the city in 1975

Pukete Pa is located in the north of the suburb on a cliff on the Waikato River bank, at the northern end of the riverside Braithwate Park. It is thought to have been built by Nga Iwi and later conquered by Ngati Koura[8] The name Pukete comes from a locally made bag used to soak hinau berries in streams to ferment and preserve them.[8] The area was confiscated in 1864, after the invasion of the Waikato.[9] A double ditch remains to the north of the Pa. Carved wooden items, found close to the pā, are in Waikato Museum. Habitation was sparse, as one early European traveller noted no other settlement for 15 mi (24 km) along the Waikato.[8]

Pukete parish existed from at least 1867,[10] but, until the 1900s, Horotiu was often referred to as Pukete. Horotiu railway station changed its name from Pukete on 23 June 1907,[11] when the proposed post office was referred to as Horotiu (Pukete),[12] and the name of Horotiu school changed from Pukete in 1911.

In 2011 Hamilton Libraries compiled a list of street names, showing that most development occurred over about a decade from 1969, that many roads were named after trees and several developers were involved[13] Before long, Pukete School was opened in 1972 and a swimming pool in 1975. Rather slower to open were a library in 1999 and Te Manawa Hall in 2002.[14]

Braithwaite Park was owned by Waikato Hospital Board, who sold it to developers in 1990, the park being transferred to Hamilton City Council on 12 June 1990.[8]

Pukete School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students with a roll of 428 as of March 2020.[15][16] The first Pukete School was established in 1879, and burned down in 1909.[17] The current school opened in 1973.[18]

Te Rapa School also serves the area.

• Suburbs of Hamilton, New Zealand
• The Base (shopping centre)
• Pukete sewage works
• Te Rapa railway station