Moturoa

For the island off the coast of Moturoa, see Moturoa (island). For Moturoa / Rabbit Island in the Tasman Region, see Rabbit Island, New Zealand.

Moturoa
Suburb
Coordinates: 39°3′49″S 174°2′8″E
Country	New Zealand
City	New Plymouth
Local authority	New Plymouth District Council
Electoral ward	Kaitake-Ngāmotu General Ward Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori Ward
Area
• Land	215 ha (531 acres)
Population  (June 2024)
• Total	4,580

Sugarloaf Islands, Ngā-Motu, New Plymouth Power Station	Port Taranaki
Paritutu, Mahoe	Moturoa	New Plymouth Central
Port View, Mt. Moturoa, Onuku Taipari Domain, Omata	Spotswood	Blagdon, Lynmouth

Whiteley Mission House

Moturoa is a coastal suburb of New Plymouth, in the western North Island of New Zealand. It is located to the west of the city centre, bordering Port Taranaki and the Sugar Loaf Islands. One of the islands, Moturoa, the largest, shares its name with the suburb.

The Ngamotu Domain lies to the south of Moturoa, and Mount Moturoa to the west. Ngamotu Beach is to the north.

Moturoa was commonly known as Tigertown last century. In 2007 a book was written about the early history of Moturoa.

History

Moturoa Island, the namesake of the suburb

The siege of Otaka Pā and Dicky Barrett

In 1832 Richard (Dicky) Barrett and his former crewmates (recalled as Akerau, probably Akers, Tamiriri, probably Wright, Kopiri probably Phillips, and Oliver in 1873) joined local Maori in the Otaka pā at Ngamotu, (Where the freezing works are)[1] to aid their defence in the face of an attack by heavily armed Waikato Māori, firing on the invaders with three cannon, using nails, iron scraps and stones for ammunition. The siege lasted more than three weeks before the Waikato withdrew, leaving a battle scene strewn with bodies, many of which had been cannibalised. In June Barrett, and John (Jacky) Love, migrated south with as many as 3000 Atiawa Māori.

Jacky Love, was Captain of the 60 ton schooner Adventure. The Adventure’s arrival in New Zealand came almost 60 years after Captain James Cook’s first voyage in 1769.

Barrett and Love both married into the local iwi.

As well as being a trader, Dicky went on to become an explorer, a whaler, interpreter and agent to the NZ Company, a publican and farmer. Barrett's whaling business suffered heavy losses and, after he was forced to sell his hotel in 1841, he led a party of Te Ātiawa back to Taranaki and went on to help establish settlers in New Plymouth.

Barrett died at Moturoa, on 23 February 1847, possibly from a heart attack or following injury after a whaling accident, and was buried in Wāitapu urupa (cemetery) at the seaside end of Bayly Road, adjacent to Ngāmotu Beach, New Plymouth, alongside his daughter Mary Ann, and later on by his wife Wakaiwa Rawinia, in 1849. Wāitapu was the first cemetery in New Plymouth and the first recorded burial was Mary Ann.

Port of Moturoa

The natural harbour at Port Taranaki before reclamation was once called the Port of Moturoa on early cadastral survey maps. Cargo was transported by small vessels to ships waiting out at sea until the port was opened in 1881.

Early Industry

In 1865 the Alpha well was drilled near Mikotahi at New Plymouth. This was the first oil well in what is now the Commonwealth and one of the first in the world. A petroleum industry developed at Moturoa, including producing wells and refineries, known as the Moturoa oilfield. The last refinery there was closed in 1972. The field continues to produce small quantities of oil. There was once an ironworks, oilworks, dairy and meat cool store.

Trams (public transport)

New Plymouth's electric tramway system (proposed as early as 1906) began operations on 10 March 1916 between Fitzroy and Weymouth Street (a short distance past the railway station). In the first week of operation, 18,213 passengers rode the trams. Weymouth Street through Moturoa to the Breakwater at the port opened on 21 April 1916. The closure of the system on 23 July 1954.

Moturoa Street

Moturoa Street was once known as Medley Lane and lined with houses but these have mostly disappeared. They have been replaced with commercial premises or are vacant sections. The street was nicknamed as "Melody Lane" by Tigertown residents.

Hongi-Hongi stream

The Hongi-hongi stream has its source to the east of Eton Place. The stream once made its way to a lagoon and then into the sea at Ngamotu Beach. The Honeyfield residence, built by Dicky Barrett, was close by on the eastern side, with sand dunes on the western side. The stream and lagoon, in Sir George Greys' Polynesian Mythology, were said to be named by "Turi" in relation to the strong smell of "sulphuretted hydrogen gas". The stream is culverted from the end of Harbour Street, going under Breakwater Road, through to the western end of what remains of Ngāmotu Beach.

Ngāmotu Beach

Ngāmotu Beach was labelled "The Playshore of the Pacific". The New Year's celebration and other carnivals at Ngāmotu became annual events, drawing crowds from all around Taranaki till they began to decline in popularity from the late 1950s. The final carnival was held at the beach in 1966, giving way to other, more fashionable, forms of family entertainment.

It is home to the 1st Mikotahi Sea Scouts.

Demographics

Moturoa, including Kawaroa, covers 2.15 km² (0.83 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 4,580 as of June 2024, with a population density of 2,130 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	4,071	—
2013	4,011	−0.21%
2018	4,137	+0.62%
Source:

Moturoa had a population of 4,137 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 126 people (3.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 66 people (1.6%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,812 households, comprising 1,953 males and 2,184 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 624 people (15.1%) aged under 15 years, 774 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,803 (43.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 936 (22.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.2% European/Pākehā, 15.4% Māori, 1.7% Pacific peoples, 7.9% Asian, and 1.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 20.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.0% had no religion, 38.0% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 1.6% were Hindu, 0.8% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 747 (21.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 633 (18.0%) people had no formal qualifications. 627 people (17.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,623 (46.2%) people were employed full-time, 537 (15.3%) were part-time, and 144 (4.1%) were unemployed.

Individual statistical areas

Name	Area (km2)	Population	Density (per km2)	Households	Median age	Median income
Moturoa	1.02	1,809	1,774	792	44.1 years	$31,700
Kawaroa	1.13	2,328	2,060	1,020	43.6 years	$31,200
New Zealand					37.4 years	$31,800

Education

Moturoa School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 156 students as of August 2024. The school celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1998. Since 2006 the school has been home to the two primary classes of the New Plymouth Montessori school, which was previously at the (now closed) Kaimiro School near Egmont Village. Moturoa School was the first Enviroschool in Taranaki and has achieved Silver award level.

Sport

Association Football (soccer)

Moturoa is home to Moturoa AFC.

Moturoa AFC qualified for the 2024 Women's Central League with a 2-1 win over Horowhenua Coastal (Te Kotahitanga FC) in the promotion play-offs after winning the 2023 women's Central Region Federation League.

Rugby League

Western Suburbs Tigers Rugby League Club is based at the Ngamotu Domain in Moturoa.

Rugby Union

Moturoa Football Club was a short lived rugby football club. Started by the Breakwater Sports Committee at the Malva Tea Kiosk on 28 February 1914. Affiliated to the Taranaki Rugby Union at the general meeting with C.W.Williams as club delegate, on 27 March 1914. The team was able to secure the prison reserve field opposite the freezing works for training. Owing to more Thursday teams playing Saturday competitions, the club amalgamated with Star Rugby Football Club on 7 May 1914, retaining a junior team to play in white, the colour of Moturoa, but wearing the Star emblem on the jersey.

Cricket

The Moturoa Beachcombers was a cricket team in mid to late 1910s. The team played against East End at East End beach, New Plymouth. And in January 1911 made a journey by motor launch to play Urenui at Urenui. Players, among others were, Stohr, Humphries, McCord and Brown.