palisades in the dead of night and massacring the 250 people found within. So great was the carnage that the name Pūrākaunui (, "large wood pile") refers to the sight of the bodies which had been piled in a huge heap outside the . Demographics Pūrākaunui is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers , and is part of the much larger Mount Cargill statistical area. Pūrākaunui had a population of 210 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 9 people (4.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (9.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 93 households. There were 108 males and 102 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.06 males per female. The median age was 50.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 36 people (17.1%) aged under 15 years, 18 (8.6%) aged 15 to 29, 108 (51.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 51 (24.3%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 94.3% European/Pākehā, 11.4% Māori, and 2.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Although some people objected to giving their religion, 67.1% had no religion, 22.9% were Christian and 1.4% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (32.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 21 (12.1%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $29,500, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 81 (46.6%) people were employed full-time, 24 (13.8%) were part-time, and 6 (3.4%) were unemployed. Education Pūrākaunui School is a full primary school serving years 1 to 8, with a roll of students as at The school celebrated its 125th jubilee in 1997. References Populated places in Otago