Matapihi had a population of 729 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 54 people (8.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 48 people (7.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 189 households, comprising 372 males and 357 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 37.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 171 people (23.5%) aged under 15 years, 135 (18.5%) aged 15 to 29, 342 (46.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 81 (11.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 36.6% European/Pākehā, 77.4% Māori, 2.1% Pacific peoples, 0.8% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 4.5, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 35.4% had no religion, 32.5% were Christian, 26.7% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.4% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (15.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 141 (25.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 72 people (12.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 273 (48.9%) people were employed full-time, 84 (15.1%) were part-time, and 42 (7.5%) were unemployed.[3]
Te Kura o Matapihi is a co-educational Māori language immersion state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[6] with a roll of 199 as of November 2024.[7]
