Mararoa

Rural area in Southland, New Zealand

Place in South Island, New Zealand

Mararoa

Coordinates: 45°32′42″S 167°53′35″E﻿ / ﻿45.545°S 167.893°E﻿ / -45.545; 167.893
Country| New Zealand
Island| South Island
Region| Southland region
Territorial authorities of New Zealand| Southland District
Ward| Mararoa Waimea Ward
Community| Fiordland Community
Electorates|

* Southland
* Te Tai Tonga (Māori)

Government

• Territorial authority| Southland District Council
• Regional council| Southland Regional Council
• Mayor of Southland| Rob Scott
• Southland MP| Joseph Mooney
• Te Tai Tonga MP| Tākuta Ferris
Area

[1]

• Total

| 2,717.39 km2 (1,049.19 sq mi)
Population

(June 2024)[2]

• Total

| 870
• Density| 0.32/km2 (0.83/sq mi)
Local iwi| Ngāi Tahu

Mararoa is a rural area in New Zealand's Southland District. The area broadly corresponds to the course of the Mararoa River and the eastern part of Te Anau Basin, and includes the Mavora Lakes and the settlement of Manapouri.

The local primary school is located at The Key, at the intersection of State Highway 94, the Southern Scenic Route and the Mararoa River.[3]

## Demographics

[edit]

The Mararoa statistical area covers 2,717.39 km2 (1,049.19 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 870 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 0.32 people per km2.

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 789| —
2013| 714| −1.42%
2018| 774| +1.63%
Source: [4]

Mararoa had a population of 774 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 60 people (8.4%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 15 people (−1.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 309 households, comprising 402 males and 375 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.07 males per female. The median age was 44.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 138 people (17.8%) aged under 15 years, 123 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 402 (51.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 108 (14.0%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 95.0% European/Pākehā, 9.3% Māori, 0.8% Asian, and 1.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.5% had no religion, 30.6% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.4% were Buddhist and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (16.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 111 (17.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 93 people (14.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 405 (63.7%) people were employed full-time, 117 (18.4%) were part-time, and 3 (0.5%) were unemployed.[4]

## Education

[edit]

Mararoa School is a full primary school serving years 1 to 8[5] with a roll of 32 students as of July 2025.[6] It opened in 1914.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. ^ Harriss, Gavin (November 2021). Mararoa, Southland (Map). NZ Topo Map.
4. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Mararoa (357300). 2018 Census place summary: Mararoa
5. ^ Education Counts: Mararoa School
6. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
7. ^ "Our History". mangaroaschool.com. Mangaroa School.

* v
* t
* e

Southland District, New Zealand

Seat: Invercargill City

Populated places|

| Mararoa Waimea Ward|

| Five Rivers Area|

* Athol
* Eyre Creek
* Garston
* Lowther
* Lumsden
* Mossburn
* Parawa

|

Te Anau Area|

* Manapouri
* Mararoa
* Milford Sound
* Te Anau

Waikaia Area|

* Balfour
* Riversdale
* Waikaia

Waiau Aparima Ward|

| Riverton Area|

* Colac Bay / Ōraka
* Gummies Bush
* Orepuki
* Pahia
* Riverton / Aparima
* Thornbury
* Waipango

|

Tuatapere Area|

* Blackmount
* Clifden
* Te Waewae
* Tuatapere

Wallace Area|

* Drummond
* Fairfax
* Heddon Bush
* Isla Bank
* Nightcaps
* Ohai
* Otautau
* Wairio
* Wreys Bush

Waihopai Toetoes Ward|

| Toetoes Area|

* Curio Bay
* Fortification
* Fortrose
* Glenham
* Pine Bush
* Pukewao
* Slope Point
* Titiroa
* Te Peka
* Tokanui
* Waipapa Point
* Waikawa
* Waimahaka
* Wyndham

|

Waihopai Area|

* Ashers
* Dacre
* Gorge Road
* Grove Bush
* Kapuka
* Kapuka South
* Longbush
* Mabel Bush
* Makarewa
* Mokotua
* Oteramika
* Rakahouka
* Roslyn Bush
* Timpanys
* Woodlands

Oreti Ward|

| Te Tipua Area|

* Edendale
* Glencoe
* Mataura Island
* Menzies Ferry
* Seaward Downs
* Te Tipua
* Tuturau
* Waitane

|

Wallacetown Area|

* Lochiel
* Waianiwa
* Wallacetown
* Waimatuku

Winton Area|

* Browns
* Dipton
* Hedgehope
* Limehills
* Springhills
* Winton

Stewart Island / Rakiura|

* Oban
* Port Pegasus

Geographic features|

* Mavora Lakes
* Mokoreta River
* Mount Richardson
* Niagara Falls
* Porpoise Bay
* Waipapa Point

Facilities and attractions|

* Eyre Mountains / Taka Ra Haka Conservation Park
* Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve
* Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve
* Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve
* Lake2Lake Trail
* Mavora Lakes Conservation Park
* Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve
* Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve
* SS Tararua
* Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve
* Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula) Marine Reserve
* Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve
* Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve
* Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve
* Ulva Island-Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve
* Waipapa Point Lighthouse

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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