# Morrinsville

Morrinsville (Māori: Mōrena) is a provincial town in the Waikato region of New Zealand's North Island. Morrinsville is a service town for the local dairy industry; the area surrounding the town has the highest concentration of dairy cattle in New Zealand.

## History and Culture
### Pre-European settlement

Prior to European settlement of New Zealand, the hills around present-day Morrinsville were occupied by the Ngati Werewere Māori people of the Ngati Haua Iwi, and the site of the present-day town was on or near to an old Māori route between the upper Waihou-Piako basin and the Ngāruawāhia area.
Following the arrival of Europeans, some early European traders are believed to have traversed this route prior to 1834 when the Rev. J. Morgan travelled up the Piako River to near the future town site and crossed west to Horotiu, near Ngāruawāhia. First recorded contact with European settlers in the area occurred around 1850, with John Johnson trading with the Māori from 1852.

### Post-European settlement

The 1860s saw an influx of European settlers to the area between Te Aroha and Matamata, and on 13 December 1873 a settler from Auckland, Thomas Morrin, purchased the Kuranui No.1 Block from the local Māori and founded the Lockerbie Estate, which Morrin named after the Scottish town from which his father had emigrated. In May 1874, Morrin purchased two further blocks, Motumaoho No.1 and No.2, and his estate then totaled over 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares). The fledgling village was to be the service centre for Morrin's Lockerbie Estate and he built a blacksmith's shop, manager's house, the Jolly Cripple Hotel and general store and donated land for a school. Morrin hired Irish navvies from the gold fields to dig a network of ditches to drain the land, enabling it to be used for agriculture. In 1882 Morrin surveyed the land for the site of the town proper, and deposited plans for ten streets: Anderson, Hamilton, Studholme, Moorhouse, Lorne, Canada, Cureton, Somerville, Thames and Thorpe (the first and last three streets being named after family members).
The Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company began construction of a railway line from Morrinsville to Rotorua in 1879, and on 1 October 1884, the line from Hamilton to Morrinsville was opened. With construction progressing towards Paeroa and the line to Te Aroha opening on 1 March 1886, the town's population was listed as 633 people. There were some proposals for lines to Matamata, Tirau, and Rotorua, which would have turned Morrinsville into an area where several lines meet, instead a railway line was built to Lichfield. In 1880 Morrinsville was a hamlet with her own school, post office, and hotel.$^{:244}$ With further expansion of the railway towards Thames and Tauranga, alongside extensive drainage of swamp land to the south and west of the town making available large areas for dairy farming. Morrinsville was declared a town district in 1908 and in 1921 was constituted as a borough.
In 1895 the first church in Morrinsville, an Anglican church, was constructed. In 1907 a police station was constructed. The resident constable also serviced Wardville, Gordon, and Waharoa.$^{:246}$
In 1957 Morrinsville annexed land from Piako County. The expansion included land at the south-east up to the Piako River and the Waitakaruru Stream, alongside land near the Tahuna-Waharoa highway, and land around Avenue Road.$^{:250}$
In the early 1900s a Māori canoe (waka) was discovered on a property in Tahuna. The 45 ft (14 m) waka, named Maungateroto, had been laying on the property under a tree for 60 years. The waka was placed outside the Morrinsville War Memorial Hall after being gifted to Morrinsville by Ngati-Paoa in 1968.$^{:273}$

## Demographics

In 1881 Morrinsville had a population of 115, 30 years later it was 300. When Morrinsville was constituted as a town district in 1911 it had a population of 565. In 1971 Morrinsville's population was 4,454.$^{:247}$
Morrinsville covers 10.28 km$^2$ (3.97 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 9,710 as of June 2024, with a population density of 945 people per km$^2$.
Before the 2023 census, the town had a smaller boundary, covering 7.78 km$^2$ (3.00 sq mi). Using that boundary, Morrinsville had a population of 7,761 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 768 people (11.0%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 1,158 people (17.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,934 households, comprising 3,699 males and 4,062 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female, with 1,533 people (19.8%) aged under 15 years, 1,467 (18.9%) aged 15 to 29, 3,138 (40.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,626 (21.0%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 83.4% European/Pākehā, 18.1% Māori, 1.9% Pacific peoples, 6.9% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 12.7, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.6% had no religion, 34.5% were Christian, 0.9% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.9% were Hindu, 0.3% were Muslim, 1.5% were Buddhist and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 747 (12.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,737 (27.9%) people had no formal qualifications. 924 people (14.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 3,027 (48.6%) people were employed full-time, 807 (13.0%) were part-time, and 198 (3.2%) were unemployed.
The Morrinsville East and West areas (2018 boundaries) had these census figures -
| | Population | Population | Population | Households | Households | Households | Average income | Average income | National average |
| Year | E | W | total | E | W | total | E | W | |
| 2001 | 3,678 | 2,520 | 6,198 | 1,431 | 903 | 2,334 | $19,000 | $16,100 | $18,500 |
| 2006 | 4,056 | 2,547 | 6,593 | 1,566 | 945 | 2,511 | $26,100 | $21,500 | $24,100 |
| 2013 | 4,431 | 2,562 | 6,993 | 1,773 | 978 | 2,751 | $30,600 | $24,200 | $27,900 |
| 2018 | 4,812 | 2,949 | 7,761 | 1,857 | 1,086 | 2,943 | $33,800 | $27,600 | $31,800 |
Apart from Morrinsville, the largest number of commuters go to Waihou from Morrinsville East and Tahuroa from West. In 2018 13.8% of the population of Morrinsville East and 25.1% of West were Māori.

## Education

Morrinsville College is the town's state secondary school, with a roll of 700.
Morrinsville Intermediate is the state intermediate school, with a roll of 340.
The town has two state primary schools for Year 1 to 6 students: Morrinsville School, with a roll of 227; and David Street School, with a roll of 536;
A third primary school, Motumaoho School, is located south-west of the town on State Highway 26; it has a roll of 30.
St Joseph's Catholic School is a state integrated Catholic primary school, with a roll of 194.
All these schools are co-educational. Rolls are as of November 2024.

## Economy

Morrinsville's economic growth is dependent on the surrounding countryside: the Piako country is one of the wealthiest farming areas in the world with the country being good for dairy cattle specifically.$^{:133–149,243}$
Morrinsville was impacted by the Long Depression but weathered it better than other settlements due to its location on the railway line.$^{:245}$
Morrinsville houses several factories involved in agricultural products such as a butter factory, which claims to be the first butter factory in the world to be fully automated,$^{:243}$, and a fertiliser factory.$^{:243}$

## Transportation
### Railway

Historically, Morrinsville was the railway junction of the Auckland–Thames and Auckland–Rotorua lines, which subsequently became the Thames Branch and the East Coast Main Trunk Railway (Tauranga) lines. Morrinsville Railway Station was opened on 1 October 1884, to the east off Studholme Street, at the junction of the two lines. A footbridge over the track was opened in 1913, connecting the station with the town from the end of Canada Street. The station was described as consisting of "two asphalt passenger platforms, and the station buildings contain a ladies' waiting room, a large general waiting room, a post office lobby with post and telegraph offices, a ticket office, and offices for the Inspector of Permanent Way. There are also large goods and engine sheds, and cattle loading yards. Five workmen's cottages adjoin the station, and the Bank of New Zealand Estates Company has a large building connected with the siding for seed-cleaning and storage purposes." The station was moved about 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) towards Hamilton in 1923. The original station building was demolished in 1984 and a smaller building was erected approximately 300 metres to the west off Marshall Street, which is still used by KiwiRail for freight services.
Passenger services are no longer provided to or from Morrinsville Railway Station. The Thames Branch closed on 28 June 1991 and the track subsequently lifted, although in 2004 a short shunt line – the Waitoa Industrial Line – reopened to facilitate freight trains for the Waitoa Dairy Factory. The East Coast Main Trunk Railway provided passenger services between Auckland and Rotorua – the Geyserland Express – and Auckland and Tauranga - the Kaimai Express; however, in 2001 it was announced that these services were too uneconomic to continue, and the last trains ran on 7 October 2001.
Passenger traffic reached a peak in 1944, as shown in this table and the graph -
| year | tickets | season tickets | staff | source | titte |
| 1885 | 1,652 | 3 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1885/I/1156 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1885 |
| 1886 | 4,562 | 6 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1886/I/1138 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1886 |
| 1887 | 3,688 | 63 | 2 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1887/I/920 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1887 |
| 1888 | 1,892 | 58 | 1 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1889/I/1068?large_image=true | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1888 |
| 1889 | 1,911 | 26 | 1 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1889/I/1068 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1889 |
| 1890 | | | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1890/I/1064 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1890 |
| 1891 | 2,024 | 7 | 2 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1891/II/1264 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1891 |
| 1892 | 2,175 | 13 | 2 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1892/I/1164 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1892 |
| 1893 | 2,603 | 26 | 2 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1893/I/1494 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1893 |
| 1894 | 2,965 | 16 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1894/I/1388 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1894 |
| 1895 | 2,137 | 15 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1895/I/1586 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1895 |
| 1896 | 2,241 | 8 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1896/I/1624 | RETURN No. 10. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Twelve Months ending 31 March 1896 |
| 1897 | 2,225 | 8 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1897/II/1610 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1897 |
| 1898 | 2,249 | 11 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1898/I/1670 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1898 |
| 1899 | 2,172 | 29 | 3 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1899/I/1824 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1899 |
| 1900 | 2,621 | 22 | 4 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1900/I/1612 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1900 |
| 1901 | | | | | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1901 |
| 1902 | 3,787 | 2 | 4 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1902/I/1436 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1902 |
| 1903 | 4,448 | 16 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1903/I/1873 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1903 |
| 1904 | 5,652 | 34 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1904/I/1848 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1904 |
| 1905 | 6,363 | 22 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1905/I/3767 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1905 |
| 1906 | 6,747 | 17 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1906/II/1600 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1906 |
| 1907 | 8,099 | 26 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1907/I/2542 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1907 |
| 1908 | 11,985 | 43 | 7 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1908/I/2061 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1908 |
| 1909 | 13,067 | 43 | 8 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1909/II/1832 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1909 |
| 1910 | 14,043 | 44 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1910/I/2050 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1910 |
| 1911 | 14,505 | 57 | 5 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1911/I/2497 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1911 |
| 1912 | 14,718 | 69 | 6 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1912/II/2420 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1912 |
| 1913 | 19,603 | 62 | 8 | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1913/I/3693 | RETURN No. 12. STATEMENT of Revenue and Expenditure of each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1913 |
| 1914 | 23,661 | 74 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1914/I/2031 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1914 |
| 1915 | 26,790 | 120 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1915/I/1638 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1915 |
| 1916 | 30,754 | 358 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1916/I/1053 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1916 |
| 1917 | 33,249 | 264 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1917/I/1123 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1917 |
| 1918 | 33,602 | 320 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1918/I-II/1159 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1918 |
| 1919 | 38,808 | 351 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1919/I/1231 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1919 |
| 1920 | 39,360 | 249 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1920/I/1349 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1920 |
| 1921 | 46,421 | 309 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1921/I-II/1452 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1921 |
| 1922 | 42,904 | 424 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1922/I/1409 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1922 |
| 1923 | 38,073 | 478 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1923/I-II/1321 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1923 |
| 1924 | 37,166 | 593 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1924/I/2458 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1924 |
| 1925 | 35,327 | 354 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1925/I/1804 | RETURN No. 12. Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1925 |
| 1926 | 33,467 | 446 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1926/I/1930 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1926 |
| 1927 | 31,587 | 261 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1927/I/2230 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1927 |
| 1928 | 27,278 | 286 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1928/I/2628 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1928 |
| 1929 | 24,925 | 215 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1929/I/2090 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1929 |
| 1930 | 18,686 | 257 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1930/I/2212 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1930 |
| 1931 | 20,961 | 217 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1931/I-II/1778 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1931 |
| 1932 | 18,270 | 234 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1932/I-II/1934 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1932 |
| 1933 | 23,006 | 367 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1933/I/1388 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1933 |
| 1934 | 27,071 | 390 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1934/I/2278 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1934 |
| 1935 | 28,201 | 401 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1935/I/1326 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1935 |
| 1936 | 27,293 | 373 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1936/I/1552 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1936 |
| 1937 | 29,399 | 364 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1937/I/1896 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1937 |
| 1938 | 28,030 | 329 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1938/I/1652 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1938 |
| 1939 | 26,365 | 257 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1939/I/1970 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1939 |
| 1940 | 25,771 | 280 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1940/I/1314 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1940 |
| 1941 | 28,618 | 289 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1941/I/1203 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1941 |
| 1942 | 37,228 | 306 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1942/I/651 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1942 |
| 1943 | 51,297 | 318 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1943/I/679 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1943 |
| 1944 | 52,091 | 281 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1944/I/895 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1944 |
| 1945 | 40,542 | 173 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1945/I/969 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1945 |
| 1946 | 37,342 | 193 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1946/I/1548 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1946 |
| 1947 | 23,886 | 153 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1947/I/2495 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1947 |
| 1948 | 17,221 | 44 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1948/I/2521 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1948 |
| 1949 | 13,901 | 68 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1949/I/2104 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1949 |
| 1950 | 11,797 | 55 | | https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1950/I/2366 | STATEMENT No. 18 Statement of Traffic and Revenue for each Station for the Year ended 31 March 1950 |
| | Former adjoining stations | Former adjoining stations | Former adjoining stations | |
| Terminus | | Thames Branch | | Piako Line open, station closed |
| Motumaoho Line open, station closed | | East Coast Main Trunk New Zealand Railways Department | | Kiwitahi Line open, station closed |

### Road network

Roads in Morrinsville were not metalled until the late 19th century. Roads in the town were dusty and uneven in summer and in winter they were too muddy for horses to progress at a canter. The ride from Annandale to the church in Morrinsville, which is two and a half miles, took an hour.$^{:245}$
Transport out of Morrinsville was initially difficult with the only proper road leading to Mangateparu; however, it was quite treacherous and prone to flooding.

### Walkways

A 1.8 km (1.1 mi) walkway runs beside Waitakaruru Stream and one of 1.3 km (0.81 mi) beside the Piako River. There was a plan in 2008 to combine these walkways into a route of 5.24 km (3.26 mi). There are also shorter walkways on the north east edge of town.

## Notable places

* The Nottingham Castle Hotel was originally built in 1875 as the Jolly Cripple and established as the Nottingham Castle Hotel in 1880. It burnt down in 1913 and was replaced in 1914. It is one of the oldest buildings in Morrinsville and serves a centre for the town.$^{:245}$

### Reserves

In 1970 a 60 acres (24 ha) farm that bordered the Kuranui Reserve was purchased by the Piako County Council. This was gazetted as a reserve and named Roy Scott Recreation Reserve, in honour of the county chairman. In 1972 a further 27 acres (11 ha) was added onto the reserve.$^{:308}$

## Sports clubs

* Kereone Rugby & Sports Club, established in 1919.

## Climate

Climate data for Toenepi (8km SSE of Morrinsville, 1991–2020) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.5 (76.1) | 25.0 (77.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 20.5 (68.9) | 17.5 (63.5) | 15.0 (59.0) | 14.3 (57.7) | 15.2 (59.4) | 16.6 (61.9) | 18.1 (64.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 19.4 (66.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.9 (66.0) | 19.4 (66.9) | 17.6 (63.7) | 15.1 (59.2) | 12.5 (54.5) | 10.2 (50.4) | 9.5 (49.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 11.9 (53.4) | 13.4 (56.1) | 15.0 (59.0) | 17.4 (63.3) | 14.3 (57.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.3 (55.9) | 13.9 (57.0) | 11.9 (53.4) | 9.7 (49.5) | 7.5 (45.5) | 5.5 (41.9) | 4.6 (40.3) | 5.6 (42.1) | 7.3 (45.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 10.1 (50.2) | 12.4 (54.3) | 9.2 (48.6) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 81.1 (3.19) | 73.3 (2.89) | 90.2 (3.55) | 89.3 (3.52) | 99.6 (3.92) | 113.5 (4.47) | 128.3 (5.05) | 118.5 (4.67) | 108.8 (4.28) | 100.7 (3.96) | 84.9 (3.34) | 96.9 (3.81) | 1,185.1 (46.65) |
| Source: NIWA (rainfall 1971–2000) ||||||||||||||

## Notable people

* Stephen Allen (1882–1964), mayor of Morrinsville
* Jacinda Ardern (born 1980), former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former leader of the Labour Party
* Constable Edward Best (1899–1941), born in nearby Annandale
* Maria Dallas (born 1946), pop and country singer
* Ross Ferguson (born 1943), botanist specialising in kiwifruit horticulture
* John Money (1921–2006), psychologist and author known for his controversial research in gender identity
* Hemi Taylor (born 1963), former Wales rugby union player