Pātūtahi is a small settlement 15 kilometres from Gisborne, in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in the valley of the Waipaoa River. From 1915 to 1931 Pātūtahi had a railway station on the Ngātapa Branch.

The name was officially modified to include macrons in 2021.

Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Pātūtahi as a rural settlement, which covers 3.12 km (1.20 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 370 as of June 2023, with a population density of 119 people per km. It is part of the larger Te Arai statistical area.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	339	—
2013	318	−0.91%
2018	330	+0.74%
Source:

Pātūtahi had a population of 330 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (3.8%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 9 people (−2.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 108 households, comprising 162 males and 168 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 84 people (25.5%) aged under 15 years, 66 (20.0%) aged 15 to 29, 129 (39.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 48 (14.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 50.9% European/Pākehā, 64.5% Māori, 0.9% Pacific peoples, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.4% had no religion, 30.0% were Christian, 8.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 24 (9.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 63 (25.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 21 people (8.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 120 (48.8%) people were employed full-time, 45 (18.3%) were part-time, and 18 (7.3%) were unemployed.

Parks

Patutahi Soccer Ground is a sports ground in Pātūtahi.

Marae

The area has three marae belonging to the hapū of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki.

Pakowhai Marae and Te Poho o Hiraina meeting house, and Rongopai Marae and meeting house are a meeting place of Te Whānau a Kai.

Takitimu Marae and Te Poho o Whakarau Oratanga a Tamure meeting house are a meeting place of Ngā Pōtiki and Te Whānau a Kai.

In October 2020, the Government committed $499,625 from the Provincial Growth Fund towards a fire alarm and stormwater upgrade to Rongopai Marae, creating an estimated 7.7 jobs. It also committed $460,500 to upgrade Pakowhai Marae, Takitimu Marae and Ngātapa Marae, creating 13 jobs.

Education

Patutahi School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school with a roll of 62 as of February 2024. The school started in 1878.