Awapuni, Palmerston North
Suburb of Palmerston North

Suburb in Palmerston North, New Zealand
Awapuni
Suburb
The Awapuni shopping centre
The Awapuni shopping centre
Interactive map of Awapuni
Coordinates: 40°22′45″S 175°35′04″E / 40.3791°S 175.5844°E / -40.3791; 175.5844
CountryNew Zealand
CityPalmerston North
Local authorityPalmerston North City Council
Electoral ward
  • Te Hirawanui General Ward
  • Te Pūao Māori Ward
Area
[1]
 • Land535 ha (1,320 acres)
Population
 (June 2025)[2]
 • Total
8,910
 • Density1,670/km2 (4,310/sq mi)
Highbury Takaro
Longburn
Awapuni
 West End
Linton Camp Massey University

Awapuni is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand. It is located south west of Palmerston North Central. The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "blocked-up river" for Awapuni.[3] A memorial to the New Zealand Army Medical Corps is located at the Awapuni Racecourse.[4]

Te Hotu Manawa Marae and its Tūturu Pumau meeting house are located in Awapuni. It is a tribal meeting ground for the Rangitāne hapū of Ngāti Kapuārangi, Ngāti Rangiaranaki, Ngāti Rangitepaia, Ngāti Hineaute and Ngāti Tauira.[5][6]

Demographics

Awapuni covers 5.35 km2 (2.07 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 8,910 as of June 2025,[2] with a population density of 1,665 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20067,947—    
20137,845−0.18%
20188,295+1.12%
20238,550+0.61%
Source: [7][8]

Awapuni had a population of 8,550 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 255 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 705 people (9.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 4,074 males, 4,437 females, and 42 people of other genders in 3,048 dwellings.[9] 4.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,749 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 1,908 (22.3%) aged 15 to 29, 3,603 (42.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,287 (15.1%) aged 65 or older.[7]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.8% European (Pākehā); 22.1% Māori; 7.2% Pasifika; 13.4% Asian; 1.9% 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 95.7%, Māori by 5.6%, Samoan by 1.4%, and other languages by 13.7%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.8%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.[7]

Religious affiliations were 30.6% Christian, 1.8% Hindu, 1.8% Islam, 1.4% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, 0.4% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.6%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.[7]

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,734 (25.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 3,567 (52.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,497 (22.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 534 people (7.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 3,516 (51.7%) full-time, 945 (13.9%) part-time, and 207 (3.0%) unemployed.[7]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area
(km2)		 Population Density
(per km2)		 Dwellings Median age Median
income
Awapuni North 1.23 3,684 2,995 1,284 31.0 years $37,700[10]
Maraetarata 2.44 1,464 600 540 39.7 years $45,900[11]
Awapuni South 1.67 3,399 2,035 1,224 37.4 years $42,900[12]
New Zealand 38.1 years $41,500

Suburbs

Awapuni North

Awapuni North features Awapuni School and Kia Toa Sports Club rooms. It is also the location of Awapuni and Alexander Parks, and Rugby, Panako and Raleigh Reserves.

College Street divides Awapuni North from Awapuni South.

Awapuni South

Bill's Bush in Ahimate Reserve

Awapuni South contains Riverdale School and Awapuni School, Awatapu College and a chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It features Riverdale, Ahimate and Paneiri Parks; the riverside Dittmer Drive Reserve includes a stopbank and walking track.

The area College Street divides Awapuni North from Awapuni South. The suburb is bounded by the Manawatu River. Dittmer Drive (which runs the bank of the river) has a stopbank, which is the first defence if there is a chance of flooding. There are many large houses along Dittmer Drive.

Maraetarata

Maraetarata, previously called Awapuni West, is centred around Awapuni Racecourse. It features Rangitaane, Mangaone, Otira and Totaranui parks.

Maxwells Line divides Maraetarata from Awapuni North and Awapuni South. The Mangaone Stream mostly forms the western boundary. Other features of Maraetarata include the Awapuni Landfill. Maraetarata is the site of the ancient Awapuni Lagoon, upon which the racecourse is now situated.

Awapuni Racecourse

Awapuni is known nationally for having the Awapuni Racecourse,[13] the racing centre for thoroughbred horses (gallopers) in the Manawatu region. The Awapuni Racecourse holds a number of nationally significant races, including the:

  • Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes which is a Group One race (the highest level) for 2 year olds run over 1400m in late March or early April. This race is arguably New Zealand's best race for 2 year old horses.
  • Awapuni Gold Cup, an open class Group Two race over 2000m also raced in late March or early April, which has been won by some of New Zealand's greatest horses such as the Japan Cup winner Horlicks, and Balmerino.
  • Manawatu Classic, a Group Three event over 2000m for 3 year olds.
  • Manawatu Breeders Stakes, a Group Three Weight-for-age event over 2000m in April.
  • Merial Metric Mile, an open class Group Three event in mid September.
  • Eulogy Stakes, a Group Three event for 3 year old fillies over 1550min mid December.
  • Manawatu Challenge Stakes, a Group Two Weight-for-age event over 1400m, in late December.
  • Manawatu Cup, a Group Three open class event over 2100m in late December.

In the past there were a number of race tracks in the region, such as Feilding and Marton, which have been closed and some of those Club's key races are now held at the Awapuni Racecourse,[14] thereby preserving their history such as the:

  • Feilding Gold Cup, a Listed race (the 4th tier) for open class horses over 2100m in early November.
  • Marton Cup, a Listed race for open class horses over 2100m in early January.
  • Rangitikei Gold Cup, a Listed race for open class horses over 1550m in May.

The Awapuni Racecourse has a large function centre[15] and is a racehorse training centre used by a number of prominent horse trainers.

Medical Corps memorial

During WWI the Awapuni Racecourse was used as a training site by the New Zealand Medical Corps for medical personnel who were deployed to hospital ships and battlefields.[4][16] In 1929 a memorial to honour medics killed in the war was unveiled by the Governor General Sir Charles Fergusson. The memorial takes the form of a five metre high stone cairn fountain made of Nelson marble which stands in a 'lake' in the shape of a cross.[16][17] It is thought that it is the only memorial in the country dedicated to military medics and has a Heritage New Zealand Category I listing (registration number 9684).[16][17] The memorial fell into disrepair but was restored and rededicated at a ceremony in 2016.[4][17][18]

Education

Awapuni School is a state contributing primary school for Year 1 to 6 students[19] with a roll of 108. The school opened in 1958.[20]

Riverdale School is a state contributing primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[21][22] with a roll of 372.[23]

Awatapu College is a state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[24][25] with a roll of 828.[26] It opened in 1976.[27]

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.[28]

Transport

Palmerston North bus routes 102, 106 and 108 serve Awapuni.[29]

See also

Awapuni railway station

References

  1. ^ a b "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 3 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  3. ^ "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Awapuni NZMC war memorial". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  6. ^ "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Awapuni (54990). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Awapuni North (230700), Maraetarata (230900) and Awapuni South (231300).
  9. ^ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Awapuni North. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Maraetarata. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa - Aotearoa Data Explorer. Awapuni South. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Awapuni Racing Centre". Archived from the original on 14 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Our History".
  15. ^ "Awapuni Function Centre".
  16. ^ a b c Philp, Matt (Spring 2017). "Restored to health". Heritage New Zealand. 146: 8–9.
  17. ^ a b c "Awapuni Medical Corps Memorial". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  18. ^ Lawrence, Kirsty (18 October 2016). "Awapuni Medical Memorial to be rededicated". Stuff. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Awapuni School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  20. ^ ""Another Primary School Opened" Awapuni School". Manawatū Heritage. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Riverdale School Official School Website". riverdale.school.nz.
  22. ^ "Riverdale School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  23. ^ "Riverdale School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  24. ^ "Awatapu College Official School Website". awatapu.school.nz.
  25. ^ "Awatapu College Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  26. ^ "Awatapu College Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  27. ^ Stirling, Sue. "The Wall Years 1975-1989" (PDF). Awatapu College: The First 40 Years. Awatapu College. p. 1-7. Retrieved 24 December 2025.
  28. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Bus timetable - Palmerston North urban" (PDF). Horizons Regional Council. May 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Awapuni,_Palmerston_North&oldid=1329154391"