Maraenui

For the locality in Bay of Plenty, see Hāwai.

Maraenui
Suburb
Interactive map of Maraenui
Coordinates: 39°31′02″S176°54′05″E / 39.517220°S 176.901394°E / -39.517220; 176.901394
Country	New Zealand
City	Napier
Local authority	Napier City Council
Electoral ward	Nelson Park
Area [1]
• Land	105 ha (260 acres)
Population  (June 2025) [2]
• Total	3,900
• Density	3,700/km2 (9,600/sq mi)

Onekawa	Marewa
	Maraenui
	Meeanee	Te Awa

Maraenui is a suburb of the city of Napier, in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand's eastern North Island. ^[3] The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "great marae" for Maraenui. ^[4]

It is a lower socio-economic neighbourhood with a mix of owner occupied and state-owned Housing New Zealand properties, and has a high rate of synthetic drug use. ^[5]

Demographics

Maraenui covers 1.05 km² (0.41 sq mi) ^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,900 as of June 2025, ^[2] with a population density of 3,714 people per km².

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	3,537	—
2013	3,093	−1.90%
2018	3,504	+2.53%
2023	3,780	+1.53%
Source: [6] [7]

Maraenui had a population of 3,780 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 276 people (7.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 687 people (22.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,875 males, 1,884 females, and 18 people of other genders in 1,047 dwellings. ^[8] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 28.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,020 people (27.0%) aged under 15 years, 945 (25.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,491 (39.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 321 (8.5%) aged 65 or older. ^[6]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 50.2% European (Pākehā); 58.5% Māori; 14.2% Pasifika; 3.7% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 94.4%, Māori by 17.6%, Samoan by 7.9%, and other languages by 3.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.8% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.1, compared with 28.8% nationally. ^[6]

Religious affiliations were 25.3% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.1% Islam, 11.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.4%, and 5.3% of people did not answer the census question. ^[6]

Of those at least 15 years old, 183 (6.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,506 (54.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 1,062 (38.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $33,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 57 people (2.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 1,302 (47.2%) full-time, 303 (11.0%) part-time, and 171 (6.2%) unemployed. ^[6]

Education

Maraenui Bilingual School is a co-educational state primary school, ^[9] with a roll of 144 as of July 2025. ^{[10] [11]} The school provides education in both Māori language and English. ^[12] The school opened in 1958, and became New Zealand's first bilingual school in 1988. ^[13]

Richmond School is a co-educational state primary school, ^[14] with a roll of 50 as of July 2025. ^{[10] [15]}

References

1. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
2. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2025.
3. Hariss, Gavin. "Maraenui, Hawke's Bay". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
4. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
5. Bradley, Anusha. "Marenui". Radio New Zealand. radionz.co.nz.
6. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Maraenui (215300). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
7. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Maraenui (215300). 2018 Census place summary: Maraenui
8. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
9. "Maraenui Bilingual School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
10. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
11. "Maraenui Bilingual School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
12. "About Us". Maraenui Bilingual School. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
13. Wiltshire, Laura (14 September 2018). "Every week is Te Wiki o te Reo at Maraenui Bilingual School". Hawke's Bay Today.
14. "Richmond School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
15. "Richmond School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.