Kinloch, New Zealand

Sir Keith Holyoake, then the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of New Zealand, purchased the land in 1953 in partnership with his friend Theodore Nisbet Gibbs and Gibbs' son Ian. The land, which had been purchased from Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi in 1884, was a block of 5,385 acres largely covered in scrub and fern. In 1956 Holyoake's son purchased an additional 769-acre block of land to the west of the existing block, with additional lake frontage, from the Ngāti Tūwharetoa iwi. Kinloch was developed into a holiday destination. The first sections were sold in 1959 for between NZ£550 to NZ£1500 each. The town was extended by a large subdivision called "Holy Oaks" to the northwest in 2001, despite opposition from local residents and concerns about environmental impacts held by local iwi. In February 2021, a lakefront three-bedroom house sold for 4.075 million, which was a record for the town. In November 2022 public transport was introduced in Kinloch for the first time with the launch of the Connect2Taupō service, providing a weekly bus service from Kinloch to Taupō. ==Recreation and community==

Kinloch has a mixture of permanent residents and holiday makers. In 2013, 70% of Kinloch's houses were classified as holiday homes. The lake is used for trout fishing, alongside water-skiing and wakeboarding. The Kinloch Club golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in March 2007. In 2018 the course was ranked as the best 18-hole course in New Zealand by the New Zealand Professional Golfers Association. The Kinloch Volunteer Fire Brigade services the area. It is an auxiliary brigade meaning it is run by Taupō's fire brigade. ==Demographics==

Statistics New Zealand describes Kinloch as a small urban area, which covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Kinloch had a population of 1,191 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 327 people (37.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 702 people (143.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 579 males and 612 females in 492 dwellings. 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 186 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 99 (8.3%) aged 15 to 29, 606 (50.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 303 (25.4%) aged 65 or older. Mapara statistical area Mapara statistical area surrounds but does not include Kinloch and covers . It had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Mapara had a population of 1,179 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (9.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 294 people (33.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 597 males, 585 females, and 3 people of other genders in 429 dwellings. 2.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 44.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 228 people (19.3%) aged under 15 years, 162 (13.7%) aged 15 to 29, 585 (49.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 201 (17.0%) aged 65 or older. ==References==