# Pāremoremo

Pāremoremo is a rural settlement and its mostly rural surrounds about 8 km (5 miles) southwest of Albany on the northern fringe of Auckland, New Zealand. Coatesville is about 7 km to the north, and Riverhead is about 8 km to the west. Pāremoremo is home to New Zealand's only maximum security prison.

## History

Pāremoremo is the location where Te Ākitai Waiohua ancestor and grandmother of Kiwi Tāmaki, Rangi-hua-moa, ate the final moa eggs known to Tāmaki Māori.
In the 1840s, Maurice and Mary Kelly operated a timber business at Pāremoremo and Albany. Pāremoremo was originally a small community on the Upper Waitematā Harbour which saw European settlement grow following the construction of a wharf at the foot of Attwood Road. In the early 19th century it was known for its farms, market gardens and orchards. Passengers and cargo travelled to the city by the launches and small ferries of the period.
In the mid 1960s it became the home of Auckland Prison, New Zealand's main maximum security prison. A village of 130 houses was built by the Ministry of Justice to house prison workers, but 30 of the houses were sold in 1996 after battles in the Employment Court of New Zealand and Court of Appeal.

## Demographics

Statistics New Zealand describes Pāremoremo as a rural settlement, which covers 1.28 km$^2$ (0.49 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 540 as of June 2024, with a population density of 422 people per km$^2$.
Pāremoremo settlement had a population of 483 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 42 people (−8.0%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 36 people (−6.9%) since the 2013 census. There were 246 males, 231 females and 3 people of other genders in 174 dwellings. 5.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 69 people (14.3%) aged under 15 years, 93 (19.3%) aged 15 to 29, 252 (52.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 66 (13.7%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 89.4% European (Pākehā); 9.3% Māori; 0.6% Pasifika; 6.8% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.2% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.3%, Māori language by 1.2%, and other languages by 12.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 31.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 25.5% Christian, 0.6% Hindu, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.6% Jewish, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.9%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (25.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 213 (51.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 57 (13.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $55,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 99 people (23.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 234 (56.5%) people were employed full-time, 60 (14.5%) were part-time, and 6 (1.4%) were unemployed.

### Rural surrounds

Pāremoremo including its rural surrounds covers 23.85 km$^2$ (9.21 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 4,000 as of June 2024, with a population density of 168 people per km$^2$.
Pāremoremo had a population of 3,774 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 6 people (0.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 153 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 2,085 males, 1,662 females and 27 people of other genders in 1,122 dwellings. 4.0% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 40.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 585 people (15.5%) aged under 15 years, 795 (21.1%) aged 15 to 29, 1,905 (50.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 486 (12.9%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 75.6% European (Pākehā); 14.9% Māori; 5.2% Pasifika; 13.8% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.7% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.1%, Māori language by 4.3%, Samoan by 1.4%, and other languages by 16.8%. No language could be spoken by 1.4% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.6%. The percentage of people born overseas was 31.9, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 30.5% Christian, 1.5% Hindu, 0.8% Islam, 1.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.6% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 56.1%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 645 (20.2%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,671 (52.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 687 (21.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,100, compared with $41,500 nationally. 561 people (17.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,461 (45.8%) people were employed full-time, 501 (15.7%) were part-time, and 87 (2.7%) were unemployed.
Individual statistical areas :
| Name | Area (km$^2$) | Population | Density (per km$^2$) | Dwellings | Median age | Median income |
| Pāremoremo West | 9.48 | 966 | 102 | 315 | 43.6 years | $47,900 |
| Pāremoremo East | 14.37 | 2,808 | 195 | 807 | 39.5 years | $36,000 |
| New Zealand | | | | | 38.1 years | $41,500 |

## Parks and reserves

Paremoremo Scenic Reserve is a block of land north of the Paremoremo residential area. It is the largest bush reserve in the North Shore and is a site of ecological significance.
A 38-hectare (94-acre) block of land south of the prison was bought by North Shore City for NZ$3.1 million in February 2002, to be developed as Sanders Park. The park was finished in 2010, for a total budget of $2.7 million, including a $1.2 million toilet block, a fenced off-leash dog walking area, mountain bike trails, a small children's bike track, and a fenced paddock for equestrians. Also at Sanders Reserve are two small beaches with good swimming areas. People have been known to camp on the grass areas around the beach.

## Education

Ridgeview School is a coeducational contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a roll of 59 students as at August 2024. The school opened in 1923 as Paremoremo School, and changed its name to Ridgeview in 2000.