Pukenui is a locality on the southwest side of Houhora Harbour on the Aupouri Peninsula of Northland, New Zealand. State Highway 1 runs through it.^[3] The name means "large hill" in the Māori language.^[4]

Statistics New Zealand describes Pukenui as a rural settlement. It covers 20.70 km² (7.99 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 810 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 39 people per km². Pukenui is part of the larger North Cape statistical area.^[5]

Pukenui had a population of 708 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 93 people (15.1%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 117 people (19.8%) since the 2006 census. There were 294 households, comprising 351 males and 354 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.99 males per female, with 114 people (16.1%) aged under 15 years, 75 (10.6%) aged 15 to 29, 321 (45.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 192 (27.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 78.0% European/Pākehā, 37.7% Māori, 3.0% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 2.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Of those people who chose to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 47.9% had no religion, 36.4% were Christian, 4.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Muslim, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 51 (8.6%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 174 (29.3%) people had no formal qualifications. 72 people (12.1%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 234 (39.4%) people were employed full-time, 102 (17.2%) were part-time, and 24 (4.0%) were unemployed.^[6]

Pukenui School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school^[7] with a roll of 101 students as of February 2024.^[8] The school first opened in 1896.^[9]