Kuratau
The Kuratau Power Station was built on the Kuratau River near the town and completed in 1962.
The local Poukura Marae and Parekawa meeting house is a meeting place of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa hapū of Ngāti Parekāwa.
Lake Taupō is eroding Kuratau's foreshore at an increasing rate.
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Kuratau as a rural settlement, which covers 4.50 km (1.74 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 120 as of June 2023, with a population density of 27 people per km. The settlement is part of the larger Lake Taupo Bays statistical area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 87 | — |
| 2013 | 93 | +0.96% |
| 2018 | 93 | +0.00% |
| Source: | ||
Kuratau had a population of 93 at the 2018 New Zealand census, unchanged since the 2013 census, and an increase of 6 people (6.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 60 households, comprising 48 males and 48 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.0 males per female. The median age was 64.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 6 people (6.5%) aged under 15 years, 6 (6.5%) aged 15 to 29, 39 (41.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (48.4%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 93.5% European/Pākehā, 6.5% Māori, and 6.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 38.7% had no religion, 51.6% were Christian, and 3.2% had Māori religious beliefs.
Of those at least 15 years old, 27 (31.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 12 (13.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 18 people (20.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 33 (37.9%) people were employed full-time, and 12 (13.8%) were part-time.
Education
Kuratau School is a co-educational state primary school, with a roll of 89 as of February 2024.