Te Horo | |
|---|---|
 Te Horo Beach | |
 Interactive map of Te Horo | |
| Coordinates:40°48′S175°06′E / 40.800°S 175.100°E /-40.800; 175.100 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington Region |
| Territorial authority | Kāpiti Coast District |
| Ward | Waikanae Ward |
| Community | Waikanae Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Kāpiti Coast District Council |
| • Regional council | Greater Wellington Regional Council |
| • Kāpiti Coast Mayor | Janet Holborow[1] |
| • Ōtaki MP | Tim Costley[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 31.86 km2 (12.30 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 1,600 |
| • Density | 50/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 5581 |
Te Horo andTe Horo Beach are two localities[6][7] on theKāpiti Coast of New Zealand'sNorth Island. Te Horo Beach is the larger of the two settlements and, as its name implies, is located on theTasman Sea coast. Te Horo is located to the east, a short distance inland. They are situated betweenPeka Peka andWaikanae to the south andŌtaki to the north. "Te Horo" in theMāori language means "the landslide".[8]
Te Horo Beach is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 0.36 km2 (0.14 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 390 as of June 2025,[9] with a population density of 1,083 people per km2. It is part of the larger Te Horo statistical area.[10]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 225 | — |
| 2013 | 282 | +3.28% |
| 2018 | 339 | +3.75% |
| 2023 | 369 | +1.71% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 0.33 km2. Source:[11][12] | ||
Te Horo Beach had a population of 369 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (8.8%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 87 people (30.9%) since the2013 census. There were 189 males and 183 females in 156 dwellings.[13] 4.1% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 57 people (15.4%) aged under 15 years, 42 (11.4%) aged 15 to 29, 201 (54.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 69 (18.7%) aged 65 or older.[11]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 97.6%European (Pākehā); 11.4%Māori; 1.6%Pasifika; 0.8%Asian; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori by 2.4%, and other languages by 8.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 22.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[11]
Religious affiliations were 26.0%Christian, 0.8%New Age, 0.8%Jewish, and 4.1% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 64.2%, and 4.9% of people did not answer the census question.[11]
Of those at least 15 years old, 78 (25.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 177 (56.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 60 (19.2%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $41,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 57 people (18.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 168 (53.8%) full-time, 45 (14.4%) part-time, and 3 (1.0%) unemployed.[11]
The statistical area of Te Horo covers 31.86 km2 (12.30 sq mi),[14] and includes both Te Horo Beach and Te Horo town. It had an estimated population of 1,600 as of June 2025, with a population density of 50.22 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,116 | — |
| 2013 | 1,287 | +2.06% |
| 2018 | 1,422 | +2.02% |
| 2023 | 1,560 | +1.87% |
| Source:[15][16] | ||
Te Horo had a population of 1,560 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 138 people (9.7%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 273 people (21.2%) since the2013 census. There were 780 males, 771 females, and 9 people ofother genders in 627 dwellings.[17] 4.2% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 50.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 246 people (15.8%) aged under 15 years, 192 (12.3%) aged 15 to 29, 780 (50.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 342 (21.9%) aged 65 or older.[15]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.3%European (Pākehā); 14.2%Māori; 2.3%Pasifika; 1.7%Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 3.3%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 7.1%. No language could be spoken by 2.1% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[15]
Religious affiliations were 25.8%Christian, 0.2%Hindu, 0.2%Islam, 0.6%Māori religious beliefs, 0.2%Buddhist, 0.6%New Age, 0.2%Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 61.9%, and 8.5% of people did not answer the census question.[15]
Of those at least 15 years old, 333 (25.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 750 (57.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 228 (17.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 246 people (18.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 681 (51.8%) full-time, 192 (14.6%) part-time, and 18 (1.4%) unemployed.[15]
The local Katihiku Marae and Tamatehura meeting house is a traditional meeting place ofNgāti Huia, a hapū ofNgāti Raukawa ki te Tonga.[18][19]
Some farming takes place around Te Horo, as well as small-scaleviticulture. Many residents of Te Horo commute to eitherWellington orPalmerston North. The beach is popular for swimming and boating and attracts visitors to the town.[20]
Te Horo is situated on the North Island's former main highway route and main rail routes, Old state highway 1 and theNorth Island Main Trunk railway. The railway was built by theWellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR) as part of itsWellington–Manawatu Line that opened on 1 December 1886 with astation in Te Horo. The WMR was incorporated into theNew Zealand Railways Department's national network on 8 December 1908. The railway station, opened on 2 August 1886 was closed to passengers on 27 June 1971 and from 2 November 1987 became a crossing loop only.[21]
Te Horo Beach is situated off the Old state highway 1 road that sits alongside the newŌtaki expressway and is accessible by a local road, Te Horo Beach Road, that leaves the Old state highway at Te Horo.
Te Horo School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[22][23] with a roll of 210 as of October 2025.[24] It opened in 1893.[25]
Year 9 to 13 students must travel outside of Te Horo for secondary education, to schools in the Kapiti coast such asŌtaki College.