Maungaturoto

Statistics New Zealand describes Maungaturoto as a rural settlement, which covers 3.17 km² (1.22 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,010 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 319 people per km². Maungaturoto is part of the larger Maungaturoto statistical area.

Maungaturoto settlement had a population of 912 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 123 people (15.6%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 51 people (5.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 318 households, comprising 450 males and 468 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 204 people (22.4%) aged under 15 years, 186 (20.4%) aged 15 to 29, 360 (39.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 171 (18.8%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 84.9% European/Pākehā, 24.7% Māori, 2.3% Pacific peoples, 2.6% Asian, and 0.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 41.8% had no religion, 43.1% were Christian, 3.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 0.3% were Buddhist and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (8.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 171 (24.2%) people had no formal qualifications. 96 people (13.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 306 (43.2%) people were employed full-time, 108 (15.3%) were part-time, and 27 (3.8%) were unemployed.[4]

Maungaturoto statistical area

Maungaturoto statistical area covers 21.60 km² (8.34 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 1,440 as of June 2022,[5] with a population density of 67 people per km².

Historical population for Maungaturoto statistical area

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
2006	1,113	—
2013	1,089	−0.31%
2018	1,269	+3.11%
Source: [6]

Photo taken from Gorge Road, Maungaturoto

Fonterra in Maungaturoto

View from the Hills of Maungaturoto

Maungaturoto had a population of 1,269 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 180 people (16.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 156 people (14.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 450 households, comprising 639 males and 630 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.01 males per female. The median age was 37.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 291 people (22.9%) aged under 15 years, 234 (18.4%) aged 15 to 29, 510 (40.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 231 (18.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 85.8% European/Pākehā, 23.4% Māori, 2.8% Pacific peoples, 2.4% Asian, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 43.0% had no religion, 42.1% were Christian, 2.8% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 87 (8.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 222 (22.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $24,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 147 people (15.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 438 (44.8%) people were employed full-time, 147 (15.0%) were part-time, and 30 (3.1%) were unemployed.[6]

Otamatea High School is a secondary (years 7–13) school[7] with a roll of 663 students.[8] The school held its 50th reunion in 2016.[9] The District High School was established in Maungaturoto in 1939.[10] Otamatea High School won the Goodman Fielder Composite School of the Year Award in 2000.[11]

Maungaturoto School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 215 students.[12] A school first opened in Maungaturoto in 1874.[13]

Otamatea Christian School is a composite state-integrated (years 1–13) school with a roll of 33 students.[14]

All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of April 2023.[15]

An A class steam engine hauls a southbound Northland Express through Maungaturoto in the late 1920s with an A^B class engine at its shed on the left.

The North Auckland Line at Maungaturoto in 2011.

About 2 km (1.2 mi) south west of the town,[16] Maungaturoto had a station on the North Auckland Line from 13 August 1915 to 12 June 1987. Passenger trains ended on 31 July 1967.[17] Refreshment rooms opened in 1923,[18] and had a hostel built for female refreshment room staff in 1940, but closed in November 1956. An engine shed was moved from Wellsford in 1920. Maungaturoto station also had a 30 ft (9.1 m) x 20 ft (6.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle yards and a passing loop for 52 wagons. It was 89 mi 60 ch (144.4 km) from Auckland,[19] 3.82 km (2.37 mi) south east of Huarau and 6 km (3.7 mi) north west of Bickerstaffe.[20]

• Maungaturoto's Official website

36°06′S 174°22′E