Maraekakaho

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

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.^[6]

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.^[6]

A war memorial was set up in the settlement in 1986, commemorating the approximately 100 local men killed during World War I.^[7]

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.^[8][9]

Maraekakaho and its surrounds cover 151.29 km² (58.41 sq mi).^[4] It is part of the Maraekakaho statistical area.^[10]

Maraekakaho and its surrounds had a population of 765 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 105 people (15.9%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 156 people (25.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 384 males and 384 females in 291 dwellings.^[12] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 141 people (18.4%) aged under 15 years, 111 (14.5%) aged 15 to 29, 402 (52.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 120 (15.7%) aged 65 or older.^[11]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 96.1% European (Pākehā); 12.2% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 1.6% Asian; 0.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori by 3.5%, and other languages by 5.5%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[11]

Religious affiliations were 28.6% Christian, 0.4% Māori religious beliefs, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.9%, and 5.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[11]

Of those at least 15 years old, 162 (26.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 366 (58.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 102 (16.3%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 90 people (14.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 387 (62.0%) full-time, 93 (14.9%) part-time, and 12 (1.9%) unemployed.^[11]

Maraekakaho statistical area covers 820.55 km² (316.82 sq mi)^[13] and had an estimated population of 1,620 as of June 2025,^[14] with a population density of 2.0 people per km².

Maraekakaho statistical area had a population of 1,590 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 198 people (14.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 279 people (21.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 816 males, 768 females, and 6 people of other genders in 582 dwellings.^[17] 1.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 41.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 312 people (19.6%) aged under 15 years, 255 (16.0%) aged 15 to 29, 804 (50.6%) aged 30 to 64, and 219 (13.8%) aged 65 or older.^[15]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 92.8% European (Pākehā); 12.6% Māori; 0.6% Pasifika; 2.5% Asian; 0.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori by 2.6%, and other languages by 5.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 14.0, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[15]

Religious affiliations were 28.9% Christian, 0.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, and 0.8% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 64.0%, and 5.1% of people did not answer the census question.^[15]

Of those at least 15 years old, 354 (27.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 702 (54.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 222 (17.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $50,200, compared with $41,500 nationally. 186 people (14.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 783 (61.3%) full-time, 219 (17.1%) part-time, and 15 (1.2%) unemployed.^[15]

Maraekakaho School is a co-educational state primary school,^[18] with a roll of 124 as of July 2025.^[19][20] It opened in 1893.^[21]

Kererū School is a co-educational state primary school about 22 km west of Maraekakaho settlement,^[22] with a roll of 26 as of July 2025.^[19][23] It opened in 1912.^[24]