# Maungaturoto

Maungaturoto is a small town in the Northland Region of New Zealand.
The township is located close to the Otamatea River, an estuarial arm of the Kaipara Harbour 25 kilometres north of Wellsford and 45 kilometres south of Whangārei.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "mountain standing up in lagoons" for Maungatūroto.

## Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Maungatūroto as a rural settlement, which covers 3.17 km$^2$ (1.22 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,050 as of June 2024, with a population density of 331 people per km$^2$. Maungatūroto is part of the larger Maungatūroto statistical area.
Maungatūroto had a population of 921 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.7%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 129 people (16.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 429 males, 489 females and 3 people of other genders in 330 dwellings. 2.9% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 39.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 201 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 150 (16.3%) aged 15 to 29, 375 (40.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 192 (20.8%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 82.7% European (Pākehā); 29.0% Māori; 4.2% Pasifika; 3.3% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.9% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.7%, Māori language by 6.5%, Samoan by 0.3%, and other languages by 4.9%. No language could be spoken by 2.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 39.7% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.7% Islam, 5.5% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 42.7%, and 9.1% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 60 (8.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 411 (57.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 222 (30.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 84 people (11.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 309 (42.9%) people were employed full-time, 102 (14.2%) were part-time, and 15 (2.1%) were unemployed.

### Maungatūroto statistical area

Maungatūroto statistical area covers 21.60 km$^2$ (8.34 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 1,480 as of June 2024, with a population density of 69 people per km$^2$.
Maungatūroto had a population of 1,308 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 39 people (3.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 219 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 630 males, 672 females and 6 people of other genders in 465 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.6 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 270 people (20.6%) aged under 15 years, 219 (16.7%) aged 15 to 29, 558 (42.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 264 (20.2%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 84.4% European (Pākehā); 26.8% Māori; 3.9% Pasifika; 3.0% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.9%, Māori language by 6.4%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 4.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.6% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 38.3% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.5% Islam, 4.1% Māori religious beliefs, 0.2% Buddhist, 1.1% New Age, and 0.7% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 45.2%, and 9.4% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 84 (8.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 615 (59.2%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 312 (30.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $34,900, compared with $41,500 nationally. 120 people (11.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 453 (43.6%) people were employed full-time, 159 (15.3%) were part-time, and 21 (2.0%) were unemployed.

## Education

Otamatea High School is a secondary (years 7–13) school with a roll of 660 students. The school held its 50th reunion in 2016. The District High School was established in Maungaturoto in 1939. Otamatea High School won the Goodman Fielder Composite School of the Year Award in 2000.
Maungaturoto School is a contributing primary (years 1–6) school with a roll of 220 students. It first opened in 1874.
Otamatea Christian School is a composite state-integrated (years 1–13) school with a roll of 55 students.
All these schools are coeducational. Rolls are as of August 2024.

## Railway station

About 2 km (1.2 mi) south west of the town, Maungaturoto had a station on the North Auckland Line from 13 August 1915 to 12 June 1987. Passenger trains ended on 31 July 1967. Refreshment rooms opened in 1923, 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, 3.82 km (2.37 mi) south east of Huarau and 6 km (3.7 mi) north west of Bickerstaffe.