Ruapehu District is a territorial authority in the centre of New Zealand's North Island.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2015)

Quick Facts Country, Island ...

Ruapehu District
Territorial authority district
Location of the Ruapehu District
Coordinates: 38°48′14″S 175°15′43″E
Country	New Zealand
Island	North Island
Region	Manawatū-Whanganui
Wards	Ōhura Taumarunui National Park Waimarino-Waiouru
Named for	Mount Ruapehu
Seat	Taumarunui
Towns	List National Park Ohakune Ōhura Ōwhango Raetihi Waiouru Whakapapa
Government
• Mayor	Weston Kirton
• Deputy Mayor	Vivienne Hoeta
• Chief Executive	Clive Manley
• Territorial authority	Ruapehu District Council
Area [1]
• Land	6,734.41 km2 (2,600.17 sq mi)
Highest elevation	2,797 m (9,177 ft)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	13,050
Time zone	UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+13 (NZDT)
Area code(s)	07 (northern and central) 06 (southern)
Website	www.ruapehudc.govt.nz

Close

It has an area of 6,734 square kilometers and the district's population in June 2023 was 13,050.^[2]

The district is landlocked, and contains the western half of the Tongariro National Park, including Mount Ruapehu and the western sides of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro, as well as part of the Whanganui National Park. The district is also home to the world-famous Raurimu Spiral on the North Island Main Trunk railway line.

The tourist towns of Raetihi, Whakapapa Village, National Park, and Ohakune are located near Mount Ruapehu in the south-east of the district. Waiouru, with an elevation of 815 metres, is in the extreme south-east of the district and houses the large Waiouru Army Camp. The southern section of the infamous Desert Road section of State Highway 1 runs through the east of the district, from Waiouru to Rangipo.

Ruapehu District covers 6,734.41 km² (2,600.17 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 13,050 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 1.9 people per km².

Ruapehu District had a population of 12,309 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 465 people (3.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 1,263 people (−9.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 4,617 households, comprising 6,288 males and 6,021 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 39.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 2,715 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 2,208 (17.9%) aged 15 to 29, 5,454 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,932 (15.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 68.8% European/Pākehā, 43.4% Māori, 2.8% Pacific peoples, 3.4% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.4, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.1% had no religion, 33.0% were Christian, 5.1% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.5% were Buddhist and 1.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 1,026 (10.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 2,466 (25.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,300, compared with $31,800 nationally. 948 people (9.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 4,719 (49.2%) people were employed full-time, 1,431 (14.9%) were part-time, and 483 (5.0%) were unemployed.^[3]