Hiwinui is a settlement in Manawatū District, in the Manawatū-Whanganui region in New Zealand's central North Island.

"Hiwinui" means "big ridge" in the Māori language.

The Hiwinui area was originally settled by the Rangitāne iwi. Land was purchased by the government in the 1860s and resold to pākehā settlers, who converted the forest to farmland.

Hiwinui is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 2.42 km (0.93 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 400 as of June 2024, with a population density of 165 people per km. It is part of the larger Taonui statistical area.

Historical population for Hiwinui

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	174	—
2013	243	+4.89%
2018	336	+6.70%
Source:

Hiwinui had a population of 336 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 93 people (38.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 162 people (93.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 105 households, comprising 171 males and 165 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female, with 93 people (27.7%) aged under 15 years, 39 (11.6%) aged 15 to 29, 180 (53.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 33 (9.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 97.3% European/Pākehā, 7.1% Māori, 1.8% Pacific peoples, 0.9% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.7% had no religion, 32.1% were Christian, 0.9% were Buddhist and 2.7% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 72 (29.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 24 (9.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 75 people (30.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 153 (63.0%) people were employed full-time, 42 (17.3%) were part-time, and 9 (3.7%) were unemployed.

Taonui statistical area, which also includes Colyton, covers 165.77 km (64.00 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,900 as of June 2024, with a population density of 11 people per km.

Historical population for Taonui

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,230	—
2013	1,437	+2.25%
2018	1,599	+2.16%
Source:

Taonui had a population of 1,599 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 162 people (11.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 369 people (30.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 567 households, comprising 819 males and 780 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 43.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 354 people (22.1%) aged under 15 years, 195 (12.2%) aged 15 to 29, 837 (52.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 216 (13.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.1% European/Pākehā, 9.0% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 1.5% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 11.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 55.0% had no religion, 35.5% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.5% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 303 (24.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 201 (16.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 309 people (24.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 741 (59.5%) people were employed full-time, 225 (18.1%) were part-time, and 24 (1.9%) were unemployed.

Hiwinui School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students. It has a roll of 134 as of August 2024. The school opened in 1891.