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Okuku, New Zealand

Okuku
Okuku countryside
Coordinates: 43°14′46″S 172°27′07″E / 43.246°S 172.452°E / -43.246; 172.452
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Territorial authority	Waimakariri District
Ward	Oxford-Ohoka Ward Rangiora-Ashley Ward
Community	Oxford-Ohoka Community Rangiora-Ashley Community
Electorates	Kaikōura Waimakariri Te Tai Tonga
Government
• Territorial Authority	Waimakariri District Council
• Regional council	Environment Canterbury
• Mayor of Waimakariri	Dan Gordon
• Kaikoura/Waimakariri MPs	Stuart Smith/Matthew Doocey
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	834.79 km2 (322.31 sq mi)
Population  (June 2023)[2]
• Total	810
• Density	0.97/km2 (2.5/sq mi)

Okuku is a small farming community located in North Canterbury, New Zealand, lying 20 kilometres northwest of Rangiora. Okuku consists of a mix of flat and undulating farmland, and river beds that drain a catchment area in the foothills to the north. Okuku is bounded to the south by the Ashley River / Rakahuri (the major river in the area), to the east by the Okuku River, and to the west by the Garry River. Mount Thomas is the highest point at a height of 1023m.^[3]

The Okuku statistical area, which also includes Glentui, covers 838.79 km² (323.86 sq mi).^[1] It had an estimated population of 810 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 0.97 people per km².

Okuku had a population of 726 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (12.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 231 people (46.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 258 households, comprising 360 males and 363 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female. The median age was 42.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 156 people (21.5%) aged under 15 years, 99 (13.6%) aged 15 to 29, 405 (55.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (9.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.5% European/Pākehā, 3.3% Māori, 2.1% Pasifika, 0.8% Asian, and 2.1% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 16.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 61.2% had no religion, 28.1% were Christian and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 99 (17.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 84 (14.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $39,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 117 people (20.5%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 339 (59.5%) people were employed full-time, 96 (16.8%) were part-time, and 18 (3.2%) were unemployed.^[4]