Our District - Facts and Figures

Population

In 2006, the Usual Resident Population was 13,569.
People identifying as Maori make up 36.6% of the population.
Ruapehu has more families than the national average and its population is slightly younger than the national average

The number of visitors to Ruapehu is steadily increasing, with 177,000 visitors in the September quarter for 2006.
This is an increase of 38% since 2002. In fact, there were almost 40,000 extra people in the District each month in 2006.
There was an 8.5% growth in new recreational businesses from 2005 to 2006.

New Zealanders are buying here as their holiday and stressful city escape.
Over 1/3 of all the District is owned by people living outside the area (38.7%).
1/4 of people who own land in the Ruapehu District live outside the District (24.5%).
The four areas which have the highest amount of people who own property living outside the District are:
- Rangatau (60.9%), near Turoa Skifield.
- National Park (47.1%), near Whakapapa Skifield..
- Ohakune (41.4%).
- Raurimu (41.4%).

New dwellings in Ruapehu are steadily growing, with 66 recorded in the last year, 26% more than in the previous year.
The table opposite shows new consents for dwellings.
New businesses are also growing, with a 4.5% increase since 2004

The largest industry is still agriculture, which employs 21.7% of the working population, with Defence second at 10%.