Hunterville

From at least 1895 to 1948 the Hunterville Express was published in the town. It was one of 45 newspapers founded by Joseph Ives. Other editors were Cuthbert James Powell, Walter Keay, who was also a novelist and whose wife had earlier signed a suffrage petition in 1893, when women first gained a vote. In 1905 it was the Hunterville Express and Upper Rangitikei Advertiser, published 3 times a week. The Express offices were burnt out in 1917. The Hunterville railway station on the North Island Main Trunk line opened in 1887 and closed in 1988. The town's memorial for the First World War was unveiled in 1923. Kiwiburn, the New Zealand Burning Man regional burn, has been held there since 2014. ==Demographics==

Hunterville is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the larger Otairi statistical area. Hunterville had a population of 378 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 33 people (−8.0%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 51 people (−11.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 210 males and 171 females in 180 dwellings. 4.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 53.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 42 people (11.1%) aged under 15 years, 39 (10.3%) aged 15 to 29, 180 (47.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (31.7%) aged 65 or older. Otairi statistical area Otairi covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Otairi had a population of 1,248 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 24 people (−1.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (1.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 648 males, 594 females, and 3 people of other genders in 513 dwellings. 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 45.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 201 people (16.1%) aged under 15 years, 201 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 576 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 270 (21.6%) aged 65 or older. ==Education==

Hunterville Consolidated School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of as of It opened as Hunterville School in 1887. A secondary department operated between 1912 and 1929. Since then, the school has amalgamated with Silverhope (Paraekaretu) and Rata schools in 1937, Putorino and Mangaonoho schools in 1939, Pukiore in 1941, and Rata-iti school in 1952. The school took its current name in 1939. ==Notable people==

• William Meldrum (1865–1964), solicitor in Hunterville and chairman of the Hunterville Town Board prior to WWI. • Hadleigh Parkes (born 1987), professional Rugby Player, played for Super Rugby teams, Blues (Captain), Kings, and Hurricanes. Plays for Welsh regional team Scarlets (2014–) and was selected for the Welsh Test team in 2017. ==References==