Wiremu Hoani Taua, who later became the first Maori person to be appointed as the head teacher of a native school, served on the Peria Native School Committee until 1900.[2]
Demographics
The Peria statistical area covers 199.63 km2 (77.08 sq mi)[3] and had an estimated population of 1,280 as of June 2024,[4] with a population density of 6.4 people per km2.
Peria had a population of 1,260 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 153 people (13.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 309 people (32.5%) since the 2013 census. There were 645 males and 615 females in 507 dwellings.[7] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 258 people (20.5%) aged under 15 years, 156 (12.4%) aged 15 to 29, 594 (47.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 249 (19.8%) aged 65 or older.[6]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 76.7% European (Pākehā); 40.7% Māori; 4.8% Pasifika; 1.4% Asian; 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, Māori language by 11.9%, Samoan by 0.5% and other languages by 6.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Of those at least 15 years old, 111 (11.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 579 (57.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 279 (27.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $25,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 24 people (2.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 369 (36.8%) people were employed full-time, 150 (15.0%) were part-time, and 45 (4.5%) were unemployed.[6]
Education
Peria School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school[8] with a roll of 87 students as of August 2024.[9] The school was established in 1873, It was a native school until 1914.[10]