Maramarua

Maramarua
Maramarua looking east along SH2
Coordinates: 37°15′S 175°14′E / 37.250°S 175.233°E / -37.250; 175.233
Country	New Zealand
Region	Waikato
District	Waikato District
Ward	Whangamarino Ward
Electorates	Port Waikato Hauraki-Waikato
Government
• Territorial Authority	Waikato District Council
• Regional council	Waikato Regional Council
Area [1]
• Total	29.28 km2 (11.31 sq mi)
Population  (2018 Census)[2]
• Total	186
• Density	6.4/km2 (16/sq mi)

Maramarua is a locality in the north-eastern part of the Waikato District of New Zealand. State Highway 2 runs through the settlement.

Maramarua settlement is in an SA1 statistical area which covers 29.28 km² (11.31 sq mi).^[1] The SA1 area is part of the larger Maramarua statistical area.

Maramarua settlement had a population of 186 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 27 people (17.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 27 people (17.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 66 households, comprising 96 males and 90 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 34.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 51 people (27.4%) aged under 15 years, 24 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 96 (51.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 15 (8.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 83.9% European/Pākehā, 29.0% Māori, 3.2% Pacific peoples, 1.6% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 64.5% had no religion, 25.8% were Christian, and 1.6% had Māori religious beliefs.

Of those at least 15 years old, 9 (6.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 45 (33.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $38,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 33 people (24.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 75 (55.6%) people were employed full-time, 24 (17.8%) were part-time, and 3 (2.2%) were unemployed.^[2]

Maramarua statistical area, which also includes Meremere, covers 267.64 km² (103.34 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 2,080 as of June 2024,^[3] with a population density of 7.8 people per km².

Maramarua statistical area had a population of 1,767 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 288 people (19.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 354 people (25.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 582 households, comprising 906 males and 861 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 36.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 438 people (24.8%) aged under 15 years, 285 (16.1%) aged 15 to 29, 840 (47.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 204 (11.5%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 74.5% European/Pākehā, 28.7% Māori, 5.9% Pacific peoples, 5.1% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.9, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 58.4% had no religion, 30.4% were Christian, 1.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 153 (11.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 324 (24.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 213 people (16.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 696 (52.4%) people were employed full-time, 213 (16.0%) were part-time, and 78 (5.9%) were unemployed.^[4]

In 1913 a launch linked with Mercer via the Maramarua River.^[5]

The Kōpako sub-bituminous open cast coal mine was sold by Solid Energy to Bathurst Resources and Talleys in 2016.^[6] The 1948 mine restarted production in 2017.^[7] It was once linked to Meremere Power Station by an aerial ropeway.^[8]

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.^[9] Historian Michael King and his wife died when their car crashed into a tree in 2004.^[10]

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.^[11] Nearly thirty years later, in 2017, two men were charged with murder and aggravated robbery.^[12] Mark Joseph Hoggart and another accomplice, with name suppression, have been found guilty of the murder of Chris Bush, on 29 March 2021.^[13] Both men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Chris Bush, on 7 May 2021.^[14]

Maramarua School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,^[15][16] with a roll of 126 as of August 2024.^[17][18]