Āria

Aria statistical area

Aria statistical area, which also includes Piopio, covers 531.76 km² (205.31 sq mi).^[20] It had an estimated population of 1,290 as of June 2025,^[21] with a population density of 2.4 people per km².

Aria statistical area had a population of 1,263 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 27 people (−2.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 69 people (5.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 648 males and 615 females in 471 dwellings.^[24] 0.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 37.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 309 people (24.5%) aged under 15 years, 201 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 546 (43.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 204 (16.2%) aged 65 or older.^[22]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 73.9% European (Pākehā); 38.7% Māori; 3.1% Pasifika; 1.7% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.1%, Māori by 8.1%, and other languages by 4.5%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.4, compared with 28.8% nationally.^[22]

Religious affiliations were 25.7% Christian, 0.5% Hindu, 0.2% Islam, 3.8% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.3%, and 6.9% of people did not answer the census question.^[22]

Of those at least 15 years old, 126 (13.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 564 (59.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 261 (27.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $40,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 69 people (7.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 558 (58.5%) full-time, 135 (14.2%) part-time, and 18 (1.9%) unemployed.^[22]