Mararoa

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.

Mararoa
Coordinates: 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

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

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 population

Year	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

Mararoa School is a full primary school serving years 1 to 8^[5] with a roll of 34 students as of March 2025.^[6] It opened in 1914.^[7]