Matapouri
Place in Northland Region, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matapouri (Māori: Matapōuri) is a coastal settlement in the Whangarei District of Northland, New Zealand.[6] It is 7 kilometers north of Tutukaka and 35 km north-east of Whangārei,[7] in an area known as the Tutukaka Coast. Matapouri was described by Whangarei District Council in 2010 as "an archetypal Kiwi bach settlement".[8] Holiday homes make up 90 per cent of the houses and at holiday times the number of residents swells to seven times its permanent population.[9]
Matapouri | |
|---|---|
| Matapōuri | |
Matapouri Bay | |
 Interactive map of Matapouri | |
| Coordinates: 35°33′55″S 174°30′15″E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Northland Region |
| District | Whangarei District |
| Ward | Hikurangi-Coastal Ward |
| Government | |
| • Territorial Authority | Whangarei District Council |
| • Regional council | Northland Regional Council |
| • Mayor of Whangārei | Ken Couper[1] |
| • Whangārei MP | Shane Reti[2] |
| • Te Tai Tokerau MP | Mariameno Kapa-Kingi[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.76 km2 (0.68 sq mi) |
| Population (June 2025)[5] | |
• Total | 210 |
| • Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
History
The early European settlement of Matapouri was based on the milling and transport of timber. The first school was built in 1899 and the first recorded store in 1912.[10]
Te Wai o Te Taniwha, the Mermaid Pools, was an informal tourist attraction, but was closed indefinitely in 2019 by the local Māori authorities, Te Whanau ā Rangiwhakaahu Hapū Trust, due to visitors leaving toilet waste and rubbish.[11]
Demographics
Statistics New Zealand describes Matapōuri as a rural settlement. The settlement covers 1.76 km2 (0.68 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 210 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 119 people per km2. The settlement is part of the larger Matapouri-Tutukākā statistical area.
Matapōuri had a population of 207 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (7.8%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 60 people (40.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 93 males and 111 females in 102 dwellings.[14] 1.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 54.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 27 people (13.0%) aged under 15 years, 36 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 90 (43.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 57 (27.5%) aged 65 or older.[13]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 76.8% European (Pākehā); 37.7% Māori; 7.2% Pasifika; 1.4% Asian; 1.4% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.1%, Māori language by 17.4%, and other languages by 4.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 11.6, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 40.6% Christian. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.2%, and 4.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 33 (18.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 96 (53.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 36 (20.0%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $32,000, compared with $41,500 nationally. 18 people (10.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 63 (35.0%) people were employed full-time, 39 (21.7%) were part-time, and 3 (1.7%) were unemployed.[13]
Matapouri-Tutukākā statistical area
Matapouri-Tutukākā, which also includes Tutukaka, covers 78.53 km2 (30.32 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 1,910 as of June 2025,[15] with a population density of 24 people per km2.
Matapouri-Tutukākā had a population of 1,860 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 159 people (9.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 489 people (35.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 921 males and 936 females in 768 dwellings.[18] 1.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 52.1 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 267 people (14.4%) aged under 15 years, 216 (11.6%) aged 15 to 29, 903 (48.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 471 (25.3%) aged 65 or older.[17]
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.5% European (Pākehā); 17.3% Māori; 2.3% Pasifika; 2.3% Asian; 1.1% 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 98.2%, Māori language by 4.7%, and other languages by 9.7%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 22.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.0% Christian, 0.3% Hindu, 0.3% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 0.8% New Age, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.0%, and 7.3% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 372 (23.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 843 (52.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 246 (15.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 222 people (13.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 654 (41.1%) people were employed full-time, 330 (20.7%) were part-time, and 21 (1.3%) were unemployed.[17]
Amenities
Matapōuri Marae is a meeting ground for Ngāti Rehua, Ngāti Toki-ki-te-Moananui of Ngātiwai, and Te Whānau a Rangiwhaakahu of Te Āki Tai.[19] It includes Te Tokomanawa o te Aroha meeting house.[20]
The present Matapouri Hall, based on a Keith Hay Homes design, was constructed on site in the 1970s. The hall has hosted organisations such as the Women's Institute as well as providing a place for church services, polling booths, social gatherings, New Years gala and other community events throughout the years. An earlier hall built in 1912 was demolished in 1970.[21]