Tuakau

Tuakau ( en maorí : Tūākau ) es una ciudad en la región de Waikato , al pie de las colinas de Bombay , ^{[ 6 ]} que anteriormente formaba parte del distrito de Franklin hasta 2010, cuando pasó a formar parte del distrito de Waikato en la Isla Norte de Nueva Zelanda. La ciudad sirve de apoyo a la agricultura local y es la residencia de muchos empleados de New Zealand Steel en Glenbrook .

Se cree que el nombre del lugar es una referencia geográfica al alto acantilado cercano que ofrece vistas del río Waikato. En maorí, la palabra tū puede significar 'estar de pie' y ākau 'orilla del río'. ^{[ 7 ]}

Stats NZ describe a Tuakau como una pequeña área urbana. Cubre 8,31 km² (3,21 millas cuadradas ) ^{[ 4 ]} y tenía una población estimada de 6090 en junio de 2025, ^{[ 5 ] con} una densidad de población de 733 personas por ^km² .   

Tuakau had a population of 5,736 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 633 people (12.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,377 people (31.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,784 males, 2,934 females and 21 people of other genders in 1,884 dwellings.^[25] 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 33.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,380 people (24.1%) aged under 15 years, 1,122 (19.6%) aged 15 to 29, 2,547 (44.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 693 (12.1%) aged 65 or older.^[24]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 64.3% European (Pākehā); 31.6% Māori; 11.0% Pasifika; 11.7% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 95.4%, Māori language by 7.2%, Samoan by 0.8%, and other languages by 12.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[24]

Religious affiliations were 29.3% Christian, 2.4% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 1.9% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.5% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 2.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 54.9%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.^[24]

Of those at least 15 years old, 639 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,439 (56.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,284 (29.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $46,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 399 people (9.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,457 (56.4%) people were employed full-time, 528 (12.1%) were part-time, and 126 (2.9%) were unemployed.^[24]

Tuakau cuenta con instalaciones deportivas abiertas al público. El complejo deportivo Dr. John Lightbody Reserve, ubicado en George Street, dispone de piscina, campos deportivos, canchas de tenis, canchas de netball y un parque de patinaje. La piscina Tuakau Centennial está abierta al público, se utiliza para clases de natación y es utilizada por la Escuela y el Colegio Tuakau para jornadas deportivas. Los campos deportivos se utilizan para atletismo y deportes de equipo como rugby, rugby touch y fútbol. Los campos deportivos cuentan con vestuarios y salas para el club de rugby. Los siguientes clubes deportivos utilizan o tienen su sede en el complejo: Tuakau Rugby Football Club y Tuakau Soccer Club. La reserva cuenta con baños públicos.

La principal escuela primaria es la Escuela Tuakau, donde se educaron Sir Edmund Hillary y Hugh Poland . ^{[ 28 ]} Es una escuela primaria estatal mixta, ^{[ 29 ]} con una matrícula de 227 alumnos a marzo de 2026. [ ^{30 ] La} escuela abrió sus puertas por primera vez en 1870, ^{[ 31 ]} y se trasladó a su ubicación actual en 1922. ^{[ 32 ]}

La escuela Harrisville está ubicada al norte, en Harrisville .

Tuakau College es la escuela secundaria estatal del distrito, ^{[ 33 ]} con una matrícula de 1029 alumnos . ^{[ 34 ]} La escuela abrió sus puertas en 1974. ^{[ 35 ]}