Taumarere facts for kids

Taumarere is a small place located in the beautiful Bay of Islands in Northland, New Zealand. The Kawakawa River flows through Taumarere, and State Highway 11 also passes by. The town of Kawakawa is just 3 kilometres (about 2 miles) to the southwest. Opua is 7 kilometres (about 4 miles) north, and Paihia is 14 kilometres (about 9 miles) away.

Discovering Taumarere's Past

Taumarere was once a very important place. It was located at the end of the part of the Kawakawa River where boats could travel. This made it a natural spot for people to land and a small town began to grow here.

How Coal Changed Taumarere

For a while, it seemed like Taumarere would become the main town in the area. However, in 1864, coal was found in a nearby place called Kawakawa. This discovery changed everything. Kawakawa quickly grew bigger and became more important than Taumarere.

The Story of the Taumarere Railway

To move the coal from Kawakawa, a special railway line was built.

Early Days of the Tramway

On March 2, 1868, a "bush tramway" opened. It connected Kawakawa to the Taumarere wharf, which is now known as Derrick Landing. This tramway was used to carry coal for export. Horses pulled the wagons along wooden rails.

Changes to the Railway Line

In 1870, the wooden rails were replaced with metal ones. A few years later, in 1875, the government bought the railway line. They changed its size, or "gauge," in 1877 to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in). This is a common size for railways in New Zealand.

Extending the Line and Its Legacy

The railway line was extended all the way to Opua in 1884 and was called the Opua Branch. Later, in 1925, it became part of a bigger railway system called the North Auckland Line. Today, parts of this historic line are used by the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway. This is a special railway that offers fun rides for tourists.

Important People and Buildings

Mary Tautari and Education

A woman named Mary Tautari was very important to the community. She ran the Taumārere Native School in the area for many years, from 1875 to 1906.

Moving St. Andrew's Church

St. Andrew's Church has an interesting history. It originally stood in Paihia, at the site of the Church Missionary Society's mission station. In 1927, the entire church building was moved! It was transported by a large boat called a barge and then pulled by bullock wagons to where it stands today.

Who Lives in Taumarere?

The area around Taumarere, called Matawaia-Taumarere, is quite large. It covers about 408 square kilometres (about 158 square miles). As of 2023, about 1,473 people live in this area.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Matawaia-Taumarere has changed over the years:

• In 2006, there were 1,224 people.
• In 2013, the population was 1,089.
• By 2018, it grew to 1,272.
• In 2023, the population reached 1,473.

This shows that the population has been growing, especially since 2013.

A Look at the Community

In 2023, there were slightly more males (738) than females (732) in the area. The average age of people was about 39.9 years old.

• About 22% of the people were under 15 years old.
• About 17.5% were between 15 and 29 years old.
• The largest group, about 43.4%, were between 30 and 64 years old.
• About 16.9% were 65 years old or older.

Different Backgrounds and Languages

People in Taumarere come from many different backgrounds:

• About 49.5% identify as European (also called Pākehā).
• A larger group, about 66.8%, identify as Māori.
• Smaller groups include Pasifika (5.3%) and Asian (1.2%).

Most people (95.3%) speak English. However, many people (27.3%) also speak the Māori language.

Beliefs and Work

When it comes to beliefs:

• About 30.8% of people identify as Christian.
• About 5.7% follow Māori religious beliefs.
• Many people (56.2%) said they had no religion.

For those aged 15 and older:

• About 42.7% work full-time.
• About 14.9% work part-time.
• About 5% are looking for work.

The average income in the area was $28,700.