Tokanui, Waikato

Te Mawhai railway station operated from 1887 to 1962, originally as Te Puhi railway station. Tokanui is the site of the former Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital, which operated from 1912 to 1997. The closure of the hospital resulted in the loss of 600 jobs, and there was little alternative employment available in the area. Tokanui Crossroads Hall The hall, at 4 Te Kawa Road, about south of Tokanui, opened on 18 January 1928. It is a converted casein factory, which had been working since at least 1919. == Etymology ==

Tokanui is a name used for 6 locations in North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui). It is thought to be a corruption of Tāiko nui, a large petrel. Tokanui is also the name of a village in Southland, where its origin is thought to be the Māori words for rock (toka) and large, or many (nui). ==Demographics==

Tokanui settlement and its surrounds cover . The settlement is part of the larger Tokanui statistical area. Tokanui had a population of 153 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (6.2%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 9 people (−5.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 75 males and 75 females in 51 dwellings. 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 33 people (21.6%) aged under 15 years, 30 (19.6%) aged 15 to 29, 63 (41.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (15.7%) aged 65 or older. Tokanui statistical area Tokanui statistical area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Tokanui had a population of 441 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (1.4%) since the 2018 census, and unchanged since the 2013 census. There were 222 males and 219 females in 147 dwellings. 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 36.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 93 people (21.1%) aged under 15 years, 99 (22.4%) aged 15 to 29, 189 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 60 (13.6%) aged 65 or older. == Tokanui hill ==

Tokanui hill is high It rises about from the surrounding hills, formed of Puketoka (3.1m year old pumice sandstone, including peat) and Karapiro (younger pumice sandstone of silt, sand and clay) Formations, and about above the surrounding land and lies about south of the village, just to the west of SH3. as Osterns, Te Kawa or McFalls Quarry. Argillitic greywacke, one of the Manaia Hill group of rocks, of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age, is used for aggregate. There are three pā sites on the hill, Whiti Te Marama, Tokonui and Pukerimu, which are linked to Ngāti Whakatere and Ngāti Maniapoto. == See also ==