Maramarua settlement is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 50.55km2 (19.52sqmi).[5] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Maramarua statistical area.[7]
The settlement had a population of 315 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 15 people (−4.5%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (7.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 168 males and 147 females in 111 dwellings.[9] 1.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 66 people (21.0%) aged under 15 years, 60 (19.0%) aged 15 to 29, 147 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 39 (12.4%) aged 65 or older.[6]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 80.0% European (Pākehā); 28.6% Māori; 5.7% Pasifika; 5.7% Asian; and 1.0% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA). English was spoken by 95.2%, Māori language by 2.9%, and other languages by 2.9%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.9%. The percentage of people born overseas was 11.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.[6]
Religious affiliations were 19.0% Christian, 2.9% Hindu, 1.9% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, and 1.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.8%, and 11.4% of people did not answer the census question.[6]
Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (7.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 135 (54.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 87 (34.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 24 people (9.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 126 (50.6%) people were employed full-time, 39 (15.7%) were part-time, and 6 (2.4%) were unemployed.[6]
Maramarua statistical area
Maramarua statistical area, which also includes Meremere, covers 267.64km2 (103.34sqmi)[10] and had an estimated population of 2,080 as of June 2024,[11] with a population density of 7.8 people per km2.
Maramarua statistical area had a population of 1,839 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 72 people (4.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 360 people (24.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 966 males, 870 females and 3 people of other genders in 615 dwellings.[14] 2.1% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.3 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 444 people (24.1%) aged under 15 years, 282 (15.3%) aged 15 to 29, 882 (48.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 231 (12.6%) aged 65 or older.[13]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 76.7% European (Pākehā); 28.2% Māori; 9.0% Pasifika; 7.2% Asian; 0.5% 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 96.4%, Māori language by 4.7%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 6.4%. No language could be spoken by 2.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[13]
Of those at least 15 years old, 192 (13.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 816 (58.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 384 (27.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $42,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 156 people (11.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 771 (55.3%) people were employed full-time, 198 (14.2%) were part-time, and 27 (1.9%) were unemployed.[13]
Two prominent New Zealanders have died while driving near Maramarua.
Stephen Allen, a lawyer and local body politician, died of a heart attack in 1964 and in the resulting crash, his housekeeper was also killed.[19] Historian Michael King and his wife died when their car crashed into a tree in 2004.[20]
Publican Chris Bush was shot dead at the Red Fox Tavern in Maramarua on 24 October 1987, shortly before midnight, while he was having a drink with staff.[21] Nearly thirty years later, in 2017, two men were charged with murder and aggravated robbery.[22] Mark Joseph Hoggart and another accomplice, with name suppression, have been found guilty of the murder of Chris Bush, on 29 March 2021.[23] Both men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Chris Bush, on 7 May 2021.[24]
Education
Maramarua School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[25][26] with a roll of 118 as of July 2025.[27][28] The school opened in 1894.[29]
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