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Matarau
Matarau
	Coordinates: 35°39′15″S 174°13′17″E / 35.65417°S 174.22139°E
Country	New Zealand
Region	Northland Region
District	Whangarei District
Ward	Hikurangi-Coastal Ward
Electorates	Whangārei; Te Tai Tokerau;
Government
• Territorial Authority	Whangarei District Council
• Regional council	Northland Regional Council
• Mayor of Whangārei	Vince Cocurullo
• Whangārei MP	Shane Reti
• Te Tai Tokerau MP	Mariameno Kapa-Kingi
Area
• Total	15.31 km2 (5.91 sq mi)
Population (2023 Census)
• Total	465
• Density	30/km2 (79/sq mi)

Matarau is a locality in Northland, New Zealand. Kamo is to the southeast.^[3]^[4] The area is changing from farmland to lifestyle blocks.^[5]

The name "Matarau" means many points or many spears.^[6]

Demographics

Matarau is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 15.31 km² (5.91 sq mi).^[1] The SA1 areas are part of the larger Matarau statistical area.

Historical population for Matarau and surrounds
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2013	423	—
2018	447	+1.11%
2023	465	+0.79%
Source: ^[2]

The SA2 areas had a population of 465 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 18 people (4.0%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 42 people (9.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 237 males and 231 females in 144 dwellings.^[7] 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 102 people (21.9%) aged under 15 years, 87 (18.7%) aged 15 to 29, 210 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (14.2%) aged 65 or older.^[2]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.9% European (Pākehā); 22.6% Māori; 5.2% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, Māori language by 3.2%, and other languages by 4.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 10.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 27.1% Christian, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.0%, and 11.0% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 243 (66.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (17.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 48 people (13.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 198 (54.5%) people were employed full-time, 63 (17.4%) were part-time, and 9 (2.5%) were unemployed.^[2]

Matarau statistical area

Matarau statistical area covers 104.42 km² (40.32 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 3,050 as of June 2024,^[8] with a population density of 29 people per km².

Historical population for the statistical area
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	2,277	—
2013	2,337	+0.37%
2018	2,676	+2.75%
2023	2,955	+2.00%
The 2006 population is for a larger area of 108.39 km² Source: ^[9]^[10]

Matarau statistical area had a population of 2,955 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 279 people (10.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 618 people (26.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,509 males, 1,443 females and 3 people of other genders in 957 dwellings.^[11] 1.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 639 people (21.6%) aged under 15 years, 474 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,383 (46.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 459 (15.5%) aged 65 or older.^[10]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.8% European (Pākehā); 20.7% Māori; 2.5% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.2%, Māori language by 3.8%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 5.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 27.5% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.8%, and 7.6% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 357 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,425 (61.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 396 (17.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $45,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 327 people (14.1%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,233 (53.2%) people were employed full-time, 405 (17.5%) were part-time, and 54 (2.3%) were unemployed.^[10]

Education

Matarau School is a coeducational full primary school (years 1-8) with a roll of 297 students as of November 2024.^[12]^[13] The school was founded in 1877 as Ruatangata East School. Otakairanga School amalgamated with Matarau School in 1949, and Ruatangata West School also closed in favour of Matarau in 1973.^[6]^[14]