Ruatāhuna
Ruatāhuna | |
|---|---|
Storage pits for kūmara (sweet potato) at Ruatāhuna in 1930 | |
Interactive map of Ruatāhuna | |
| Coordinates: 38°33′S 176°57′E / 38.550°S 176.950°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Bay of Plenty |
| Territorial authority | Whakatāne District |
| Ward | Urewera Ward |
| Community | Murupara Community |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Whakatāne District Council |
| • Regional council | Bay of Plenty Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whakatāne | Nándor Tánczos |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick |
| • Waiariki MP | Rawiri Waititi |
| Area | |
• Total | 15.06 km2 (5.81 sq mi) |
| Population (2023 Census) | |
• Total | 117 |
| • Density | 7.77/km2 (20.1/sq mi) |
Ruatāhuna is a small town in the remote country of Te Urewera, in the northeast of New Zealand's North Island. It is 90 kilometres directly west of Gisborne, and 18 kilometres northwest of Lake Waikaremoana. By road, it is 50 kilometres south-east of Murupara, and 110 kilometres north-west of Wairoa. It is on the upper reaches of the Whakatāne River, and surrounded on three sides by the Te Urewera protected area, formerly the Te Urewera National Park. The road that runs from Murupara through Ruatahuna to Āniwaniwa on Lake Waikaremoana, a large part of which is unsealed, used to be designated as part of State Highway 38. It is a subdivision of the Galatea-Murupara ward of the Whakatāne District.