Tokomaru | |
|---|---|
Rural settlement | |
 Tokomaru Store | |
 Interactive map of Tokomaru | |
| Coordinates:40°28′19″S175°30′32″E / 40.472°S 175.509°E /-40.472; 175.509 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatū-Whanganui region |
| Territorial authority | Horowhenua District |
| Wards |
|
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Horowhenua District Council |
| • Regional council | Horizons Regional Council |
| • Horowhenua Mayor | Bernie Wanden[1] |
| • Rangitīkei MP | Suze Redmayne[2] |
| • Te Tai Hauāuru MP | Debbie Ngarewa-Packer[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.91 km2 (1.12 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 620 |
| • Density | 210/km2 (550/sq mi) |
Tokomaru is a small town in thedistrict ofHorowhenua, in the southwesternNorth Island ofNew Zealand. It is located 18 kilometres southwest ofPalmerston North, and a similar distance northeast ofShannon. TheTokomaru railway station on theNorth Island Main Trunk was open from 1885 to 1982.
The Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum features a collection of antiquesteam engine machinery, much of which is still operational. The collection includes a 1904Fowlertraction engine, an 1897Aveling & Porter portable engine and a huge 335 hpFiler & Stowell stationary engine-compressor ex the Imlay Freezing Works, Wanganui. The museum is open by appointment.[6]
Tokomaru has two public reserves, the Tokomaru Domain, which includes a sports field and hall, and Horseshoe Bend reserve.[7]
The town has a locally run combined store and post office.
There are two factories on the outskirts of Tokomaru. One of them, Stevensons Structural Engineers, built structural steel buildings, and employed many of the Tokomaru residents until it went into liquidation on Friday 3rd March 2023. The other is a former dairy factory that was being renovated in 2011.[8]
Tokomaru is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement, which covers 2.91 km2 (1.12 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 620 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 213 people per km2. It is part of the larger Miranui statistical area.[9]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 459 | — |
| 2013 | 525 | +1.94% |
| 2018 | 564 | +1.44% |
| 2023 | 594 | +1.04% |
| The 2006 population is for a smaller area of 2.54 km2. Source:[10][11] | ||
Tokomaru had a population of 594 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (5.3%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (13.1%) since the2013 census. There were 297 males, 297 females, and 3 people ofother genders in 216 dwellings.[12] 3.0% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 144 people (24.2%) aged under 15 years, 105 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 270 (45.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 72 (12.1%) aged 65 or older.[10]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.3%European (Pākehā); 33.3%Māori; 6.1%Pasifika; 2.5%Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.5%, Māori by 5.1%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 3.0% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[10]
Religious affiliations were 22.2%Christian, 0.5%Hindu, 0.5%Māori religious beliefs, 0.5%New Age, and 2.0% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 64.6%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.[10]
Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (18.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 270 (60.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 96 (21.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $49,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 45 people (10.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 273 (60.7%) full-time, 54 (12.0%) part-time, and 6 (1.3%) unemployed.[10]
Miranui statistical area, which surrounds but does not includeShannon, and includesMangaore, covers 296.88 km2 (114.63 sq mi)[13] and had an estimated population of 2,000 as of June 2025,[14] with a population density of 6.7 people per km2.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,533 | — |
| 2013 | 1,587 | +0.50% |
| 2018 | 1,788 | +2.41% |
| 2023 | 1,893 | +1.15% |
| Source:[15][16] | ||
Miranui had a population of 1,893 in the2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (5.9%) since the2018 census, and an increase of 306 people (19.3%) since the2013 census. There were 948 males, 939 females, and 6 people ofother genders in 672 dwellings.[17] 2.9% of people identified asLGBTIQ+. The median age was 35.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 450 people (23.8%) aged under 15 years, 327 (17.3%) aged 15 to 29, 888 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 225 (11.9%) aged 65 or older.[15]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.3%European (Pākehā); 23.3%Māori; 3.8%Pasifika; 6.0%Asian; 1.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.4% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.3%, Māori by 4.1%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 6.8%. No language could be spoken by 2.4% (e.g. too young to talk).New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.0%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.[15]
Religious affiliations were 28.8%Christian, 0.5%Hindu, 0.2%Islam, 0.5%Māori religious beliefs, 0.5%Buddhist, 0.5%New Age, 0.2%Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they hadno religion were 59.6%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.[15]
Of those at least 15 years old, 264 (18.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 876 (60.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 309 (21.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 159 people (11.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 843 (58.4%) full-time, 216 (15.0%) part-time, and 27 (1.9%) unemployed.[15]
Tokomaru School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[18][19] with a roll of 80 as of October 2025.[20] It opened in 1893.[21]