Āpiti

Āpiti
Settlement
Āpiti village in 2011
Interactive map of Āpiti
Coordinates: 39°58′20″S 175°52′20″E / 39.97222°S 175.87222°E / -39.97222; 175.87222
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui
DistrictManawatū District
Ward
  • Manawatū Rural General Ward
  • Ngā Tapuae o Matangi Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityManawatū District Council
 • Regional councilHorizons Regional Council
 • Mayor of ManawatuMichael Ford
 • Rangitīkei MPSuze Redmayne
 • Te Tai Hauāuru MPDebbie Ngarewa-Packer
Area
 • Total
161.84 km2 (62.49 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 Census)
 • Total
192
 • Density1.19/km2 (3.07/sq mi)

Āpiti is a small township in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the northeast of the small town of Kimbolton in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. It is located on a small plain, the Āpiti Flats, close to the valley and gorge of the Oroua River, near Rangiwahia and close to the foot of the Ruahine Range.

Āpiti was settled in 1886. Although its industry has historically always been pastoral farming, it is now also known by tourists and trampers as a gateway to the Ruahine Range. In the 1890s it gained a school, a hall and a dairy factory. When a road was built and a bridge across the Oroua River in 1896, the town developed with several shops and services. A post office opened in 1889 and closed from 5 February 1988 when Postmaster-General, Richard Prebble, closed or reduced 580 offices.

In July 2020, the name of the locality was officially gazetted as Āpiti by the New Zealand Geographic Board.