Maraekakaho is a rural settlement in the Hastings District and Hawke's Bay Region of New Zealand's North Island.

Maraekakaho
Settlement
Woolshed in Maraekakaho
Coordinates: 39.648668°S 176.617552°E / -39.648668; 176.617552
Country	New Zealand
Region	Hawke's Bay Region
Territorial authority	Hastings District
Ward	Kahuranaki
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	1,392
Postcode(s)	4171

The main village was developed by Sir Douglas Maclean in the early 20th century, on a pastoral station established by his father, Sir Donald McLean, during the 19th century. The surrounding area includes lifestyle blocks, vineyards and wineries, orchards and pastoral farms.[2]

Maraekakaho is a Māori name, translating as the area (marae) of the culm of the toetoe (kakaho); the grasses were once very common in the area.[2]

A war memorial was set up in the settlement in 1986, commemorating the approximately 100 local men killed during World War I.[3]

The Kereru Homestead and Station was established in 1857 on land purchased by the government from local Māori at the base of the Ruahine Ranges. It features mixed terrain, including flat land, rolling hills and ravines.[4][5]

Demographics

The statistical area of Maraekakaho, which covers 820 square kilometres, had a population of 1,392 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 81 people (6.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 207 people (17.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 480 households. There were 711 males and 684 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.04 males per female. The median age was 42.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 318 people (22.8%) aged under 15 years, 195 (14.0%) aged 15 to 29, 711 (51.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 171 (12.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.1% European/Pākehā, 13.4% Māori, 1.1% Pacific peoples, 1.5% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

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

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 55.2% had no religion, 35.1% were Christian and 2.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 282 (26.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 147 (13.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 654 (60.9%) people were employed full-time, 204 (19.0%) were part-time, and 18 (1.7%) were unemployed.[1]

Education

Maraekakaho School is a co-educational state primary school,[6] with a roll of 121 as of July 2022.[7][8]

Kereru School is a co-educational state primary school,[9] with a roll of 27 as of July 2022.[7][10]

References