Maramarua

The statistical area of Maramarua, which at 268 square kilometres is much larger than the locality and includes Meremere, 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. There were 906 males and 861 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 36.6 years, 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 (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

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

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 58.4% had no religion, 30.4% were Christian, 0.3% were Hindu, 1.0% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 2.4% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 153 (11.5%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 324 (24.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $32,400. 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.[1]

In 1913 a launch linked with Mercer via the Maramarua River.[2]

The Kōpako sub-bituminous open cast coal mine was sold by Solid Energy to Bathurst Resources and Talleys in 2016.[3] The 1948 mine restarted production in 2017.[4] It was once linked to Meremere Power Station by an aerial ropeway.[5]

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.[6] Historian Michael King and his wife died when their car crashed into a tree in 2004.[7]

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.[8] Nearly thirty years later, in 2017, two men were charged with murder and aggravated robbery.[9] Mark Joseph Hoggart and another accomplice, with name suppression, have been found guilty of the murder of Chris Bush, on 29 March 2021.[10] Both men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Chris Bush, on 7 May 2021.[11]

Maramarua School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[12][13] with a roll of 83 as of March 2022.[14][15]