Makarika
Rural community and valley in the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Makarika is a rural community and valley in the Gisborne District of New Zealand's North Island. It is located just south of Ruatoria and Hiruharama, off State Highway 35.[4] The Penu Pā includes a memorial to Private Parekura Makarini McLean, who was killed in combat in Egypt in 1941, during World War II.[5]
Makarika | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Makarika | |
| Coordinates: 37.9515°S 178.2255°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Gisborne District |
| Ward | Tairāwhiti General Ward |
| Electorates | |
| Government | |
| • Territorial authority | Gisborne District Council |
| • Mayor of Gisborne | Rehette Stoltz[1] |
| • East Coast MP | Dana Kirkpatrick[2] |
| • Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP | Cushla Tangaere-Manuel[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode | 4081 |
| Area code | 06 |
A post office operated in the valley from 1930 to 1970. It was operated by the Matariki Station farm for most of that time.[6]
Marae
The area has two marae belonging to hapū of Ngāti Porou iwi. Rongoitekai or Penu Marae and Rongo i te Kai meeting house is a meeting place of Te Aitanga a Mate. Rongohaere or Te Pahou Marae and Rongohaere meeting house is a meeting place of Te Aitanga a Mate and Te Whānau a Rākairoa, and also of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui hapū of Te Whānau a Rutaia.[7][8]
In October 2020, the Government committed $5,756,639 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade both marae and 27 other Ngāti Porou marae. The funding was expected to create 205 jobs.[9]
Education
Makarika School is a Year 1–8 co-educational state primary school.[10] It had a roll of 25[11] as of July 2026.[11][12][13] The school was established for the Makariki station, and closed in 1925 due to the subdivision of the station.[14] The subdivision resulted in more demand for the school and it was open again by 1928.[15]
