Tamahere

Alongside the village proper, the ward of Tamahere also includes the locality of The Narrows. In 2019, a new recreational reserve (Tamahere Park) was opened and includes sports fields for cricket, rugby, junior soccer and La Crosse. Destination playground and skate-park were jointly funded by community funds and Waikato District Council. A commercial hub was also added, including a 4 Square supermarket, a medical centre, a pharmacy, and a bakery, Waikato council office and serviced offices.^[6]

Tamahere covers 57.51 km² (22.20 sq mi)^[4] and had an estimated population of 6,930 as of June 2025,^[5] with a population density of 121 people per km².

Tamahere had a population of 6,723 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 597 people (9.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 1,758 people (35.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 3,309 males, 3,402 females and 15 people of other genders in 2,262 dwellings.^[9] 2.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 1,293 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 954 (14.2%) aged 15 to 29, 2,994 (44.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,482 (22.0%) aged 65 or older.^[7]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 85.3% European (Pākehā); 10.3% Māori; 1.1% Pasifika; 11.2% Asian; 0.8% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.6%, Māori language by 2.1%, Samoan by 0.1%, and other languages by 12.3%. No language could be spoken by 1.1% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 23.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[7]

Religious affiliations were 36.9% Christian, 1.9% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.1% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.4% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 52.6%, and 5.8% of people did not answer the census question.^[7]

Of those at least 15 years old, 2,058 (37.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 2,535 (46.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 837 (15.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $51,400, compared with $41,500 nationally. 1,386 people (25.5%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,607 (48.0%) people were employed full-time, 906 (16.7%) were part-time, and 66 (1.2%) were unemployed.^[7]

On 5 April 2008 a coolstore caught fire and one fireman was killed and seven injured, when 400 kg (880 lb) of a propane and ethane refrigerant exploded. The site is being developed in to housing.^[13]

The Tamahere Model Country School is a state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,^[14][15] with a roll of 403.^[16] The school opened in 1884.^[17]

Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist School is a state-integrated Seventh-day Adventist Year 1-8 primary school,^[18][19] with a roll of 121.^[20] It opened in 1920, closed in 1932, and reopened a year later.^[21]

Waikato Montessori Education Centre is private Montessori Year 1-8 primary school,^[22][23] with a roll of 55.^[24] It opened in 2012.^[25]

All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of October 2025.^[26]

Tamahere also has three pre-schools.