Moerewa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moerewa
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Eel sculpture at Moerewa
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Far North District |
| Ward | Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward |
| Community | Bay of Islands-Whangaroa |
| Subdivision | Kawakawa-Moerewa |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 4.26 km2 (1.64 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 2,090 |
| • Density | 490.6/km2 (1,271/sq mi) |
| Postcode(s) |
0211
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Moerewa is a small town in the Northland Region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located near the beautiful Bay of Islands, about five kilometers west of Kawakawa. Moerewa helps support the farms around it. Its main industry is a large meat processing plant, also known as a freezing works.
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Moerewa's Population and People
Moerewa covers an area of 4.26 square kilometers. In the 2023 New Zealand census, Moerewa had a population of 1,845 people. This was an increase of 108 people since the 2018 census. The median age in Moerewa was 29.6 years. This is younger than the national average of 38.1 years.
About 28.3% of the people in Moerewa were under 15 years old. Another 22.1% were aged 15 to 29. Most people, 38.7%, were between 30 and 64 years old. About 10.7% of the population was 65 years or older.
People in Moerewa come from many backgrounds. About 92.2% identified as Māori. Around 23.3% identified as European (Pākehā). Other groups include Pasifika (7.3%) and Asian (2.0%).
Most people in Moerewa speak English (94.1%). A good number also speak the Māori language (34.3%). About 5.5% of the people in Moerewa were born outside New Zealand.
Many people in Moerewa have religious beliefs. About 33.5% are Christian. Also, 13.7% follow Māori religious beliefs. About 42.9% of people said they had no religion.
Marae: Important Meeting Places
Moerewa is home to three Ngāpuhi marae. A marae is a special meeting place for Māori people. It is a very important part of their culture and community.
- Horomanga Marae and its meeting house are connected to the Ngāti Hine tribe.
- Ōtiria Marae and its meeting house, Tūmatauenga, are connected to the hapū (sub-tribes) of Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kōpaki, and Ngāti Te Ara.
- Tereawatea Marae and its meeting house are also connected to Ngāti Hine.
- Te Rito Marae and its meeting house are connected to Ngāti Hine.
In 2020, the New Zealand Government helped Te Rito Marae. They gave money to upgrade the marae, which also created 10 jobs for people in the area.
Education in Moerewa
Moerewa has two main schools that help young people learn and grow.
Moerewa School
Moerewa School is for students in years 1 to 8, which means from age 5 up to about 13. It is a coeducational school, meaning both boys and girls attend. The school first opened in 1913. In 2005, it joined with Otiria School. As of 2024, it has about 170 students.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Taumarere
This school is a Kura Kaupapa Māori. This means it teaches all subjects completely in the Māori language. It is for students from year 1 all the way to year 13 (ages 5 to 18). In 2008, a fire badly damaged the school. But they used temporary buildings to keep learning going. A new building was finished in 2010, and a big upgrade started in 2016. As of 2024, it has about 100 students.
Getting Around Moerewa
Moerewa is located on State Highway 1. This is a major road that connects many parts of New Zealand.
The town also used to have a railway line. This line was built to connect the Bay of Islands with Whangārei. It fully opened in 1911. For many years, a train called the Northland Express ran through Moerewa. This train offered a direct service to Auckland from 1925 to 1956. After that, passenger trains stopped running in 1976. Freight trains stopped in 1985, and part of the railway line was removed. The line from Otiria to Moerewa is still there, but it is not used anymore.
