Himatangi Beach is a small coastal community in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located 32 kilometres west of Palmerston North in the centre of the largest sand dune geographical feature in New Zealand.[3]
Himatangi Beach is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 0.95 km2 (0.37 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 590 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 621 people per km2. It is part of the larger Oroua Downs statistical area.[4]
Himatangi Beach had a population of 513 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (18.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 66 people (14.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 228 households, comprising 264 males and 249 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female, with 60 people (11.7%) aged under 15 years, 63 (12.3%) aged 15 to 29, 252 (49.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 132 (25.7%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 88.9% European/Pākehā, 16.4% Māori, 0.6% Pacific peoples, 2.3% Asian, 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, 53.8% had no religion, 28.7% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% were Hindu and 2.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (10.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 153 (33.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 54 people (11.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 189 (41.7%) people were employed full-time, 51 (11.3%) were part-time, and 21 (4.6%) were unemployed.[5]
The population increases to several thousand in the summer.