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Takamatua

Takamatua
Takamatua Bay
Takamatua Bay
Map
Interactive map of Takamatua
Coordinates: 43°47′0″S 172°58′15″E / 43.78333°S 172.97083°E / -43.78333; 172.97083
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury Region
DistrictChristchurch City
WardBanks Peninsula
CommunityTe Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula
Electorates
Government
  Territorial AuthorityChristchurch City Council
  Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
  Mayor of ChristchurchPhil Mauger[1]
  Banks Peninsula MPVanessa Weenink[2]
  Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
  Total
6.30 km2 (2.43 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
  Total
110
  Density17/km2 (45/sq mi)
Postcode
7581

Takamatua, formerly known as German Bay, is a small town situated in Akaroa Harbour on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand. The main road to Akaroa (State Highway 75) passes through this locality. It is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Akaroa township.[6]

History

[edit]

At the time of French settlement in August 1840 in Akaroa, a small number of German families settled in this bay.[7] Five German men, four of them single, chose to have land in Takamatua rather than Akaroa. The men were Breitmeyer, Hahn, Hettich, Waeckerle, Walther and Woll. [8] The bay was named German Bay up until 1916 when the residents called on the Minister for Internal Affairs, George Warren Russell, to change the name to Takamatua, as a patriotic reaction to World War I.[9] The German Bay Dairy Co-operative Factory was established in 1893.[10] The Factory's cheese won first prize at the Dunedin Agricultural Show in 1901 and 1902.[10][11]

Demographics

[edit]

Takamatua is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement, and covers 6.30 km2 (2.43 sq mi).[4] It had an estimated population of 110 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 17 people per km2. It is part of the statistical area of Akaroa Harbour.[12]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006111    
2013135+2.84%
2018111−3.84%
Source: [13]
BERJAYA
Takamatua Co-operative Dairy Factory on Takamatua Valley Road
BERJAYA
German Bay Co-operative Dairy Factory in 1903

Takamatua had a population of 111 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−17.8%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 45 households, comprising 57 males and 54 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 61.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 12 people (10.8%) aged under 15 years, 3 (2.7%) aged 15 to 29, 54 (48.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 42 (37.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 94.6% European/Pākehā, 10.8% Māori, 5.4% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.[citation needed]

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.2% had no religion, 37.8% were Christian, 5.4% had Māori religious beliefs, and 2.7% were Buddhist.

Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (18.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 18 (18.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $28,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 9 people (9.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 36 (36.4%) people were employed full-time, and 24 (24.2%) were part-time.[13]

References

[edit]
  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. "Banks Peninsula – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. Reed New Zealand atlas (2004) Auckland: Reed Publishing. Map 83. ISBN 0 7900 0952 8
  7. Reed, A. W. (1975). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed. p. 481. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
  8. Tremewan, Peter (1990). French Akaroa. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-877257-97-1.
  9. "Deleted from map: German Bay, Akaroa". Evening Post. 5 January 1916. Retrieved 17 September 2018 via Papers Past.
  10. 1 2 "German Bay". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Vol. 3 Canterbury Provincial District. 1903. Retrieved 17 September 2018 via NZETC.
  11. "Otago Winter Show". The Akaroa Mail. 1 July 1902. Retrieved 17 September 2018 via Papers Past.
  12. 2018 Census place summary: Akaroa Harbour
  13. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7026659.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Dykes, G.A. A History of the German Bay / Takamatua School 1876 - 1936 Archived 14 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine (history of both the school and the wider Takamatua community)