Wikipedia

Tuamarina

Tuamarina (often spelled Tua Marina) is a small town just north of the Wairau River and a few kilometres from the Cloudy Bay coast in Marlborough, New Zealand. The Tuamarina River flows south through the settlement and joins the Wairau River. State Highway 1 runs through the town, with Blenheim 10 km to the south and Picton 18 km to the north.[6][7]

Tuamarina
Pioneers' Memorial in Tuamarina
Pioneers' Memorial in Tuamarina
Map
Interactive map of Tuamarina
Coordinates: 41°25′49″S 173°57′44″E / 41.43028°S 173.96222°E / -41.43028; 173.96222
CountryNew Zealand
RegionMarlborough
Ward
  • Wairau-Awatere General Ward
  • Marlborough Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityMarlborough District Council
 • Marlborough District MayorNadine Taylor[1]
 • Kaikōura MPStuart Smith[2]
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris[3]
Area
[4]
 • Total
9.68 km2 (3.74 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)[5]
 • Total
240
 • Density25/km2 (64/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
7273

The name is a corruption of the Māori word Tuamarino, which means 'the calm beyond'. The Wairau Affray, with 26 deaths, occurred in the area in 1843.[8]

Dairy farming is the major economic activity. The original factory was the Waitohi Co-op, which amalgamated with the Koromiko cheese factory and the Rai Valley Co-op to form the Marlborough Cheese Company in 1981. The new company continued Waitohi's long history, winning a number of awards.[9] It was taken over by Fonterra Dairy Company in 1999 and the factory destroyed by fire in 2004.

The Wairau Plain is prone to flooding, and river conservation is necessary to keep the river under control. Significant floods have occurred in the area, such as one in December 1939.[10]

Demographics

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Tuamarina is described by Stats NZ as a rural settlement. It covers 9.68 km2 (3.74 sq mi)[4] and had an estimated population of 240 as of June 2025,[5] with a population density of 25 people per km2. It is part of the larger Tuamarina statistical area.[11]

‹ The template Historical populations is being considered for merging. ›
Historical population for Tuamarina settlement
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006267—    
2013222−2.60%
2018237+1.32%
2023249+0.99%
Source: [12][13]
Tuamarina Cemetery Skoda Cannon

Tuamarina had a population of 249 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (5.1%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 27 people (12.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 126 males and 123 females in 96 dwellings.[14] 3.6% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 46.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 45 people (18.1%) aged under 15 years, 30 (12.0%) aged 15 to 29, 129 (51.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 45 (18.1%) aged 65 or older.[12]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.6% European (Pākehā); 15.7% Māori; 1.2% Pasifika; 3.6% Asian; 1.2% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 4.8% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.8%, Māori by 1.2%, and other languages by 6.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.[12]

Religious affiliations were 21.7% Christian, 1.2% Māori religious beliefs, 1.2% Buddhist, 2.4% New Age, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 67.5%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.[12]

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (14.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 123 (60.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 45 (22.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $48,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 21 people (10.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 129 (63.2%) full-time, 24 (11.8%) part-time, and 6 (2.9%) unemployed.[12]

Tuamarina statistical area

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Tuamarina statistical area surrounds the settlement and also includes Rārangi. It covers 167.84 km2 (64.80 sq mi).[15] It had an estimated population of 1,350 as of June 2025,[16] with a population density of 8.0 people per km2.

‹ The template Historical populations is being considered for merging. ›
Historical population for Tuamarina statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,092—    
20131,185+1.17%
20181,263+1.28%
20231,341+1.21%
Source: [17][18]

Tuamarina statistical area had a population of 1,341 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 78 people (6.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 156 people (13.2%) since the 2013 census. There were 681 males, 657 females, and 3 people of other genders in 510 dwellings.[19] 2.7% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 47.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 237 people (17.7%) aged under 15 years, 177 (13.2%) aged 15 to 29, 651 (48.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 276 (20.6%) aged 65 or older.[17]

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.9% European (Pākehā); 13.2% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 1.6% Asian; 1.6% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.4%, Māori by 1.8%, and other languages by 6.3%. 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 18.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.[17]

Religious affiliations were 23.0% Christian, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, and 0.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 65.5%, and 8.7% of people did not answer the census question.[17]

Of those at least 15 years old, 225 (20.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 657 (59.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 225 (20.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $44,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. 132 people (12.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 567 (51.4%) full-time, 189 (17.1%) part-time, and 12 (1.1%) unemployed.[17]

Education

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Tua Marina School is a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a decile rating of 7 and a roll of 96 as of March 2026.[20][21] It opened in 1871.[22] The school celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1996.[23]

Notable people

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Notes

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  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Kaikōura - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Urban Rural 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 61. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 139. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. ↑ "Wairau Affray". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. 1966.
  9. ↑ "Tuamarina". Marlborough Online.
  10. ↑ McIntosh, Alister; Redman, William Edward; Allen, William Raymond, eds. (1940). Marlborough: A Provincial History. Blenheim: Marlborough Provincial Historical Committee. pp. 367f.
  11. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Urban Rural Areas – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Tuamarina (2036). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  13. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023301.
  14. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Tuamarina (306900). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  18. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Tuamarina (306900). 2018 Census place summary: Tuamarina
  19. ↑ "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  21. ↑ "Tua Marina School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  22. ↑ Allen, Ian (16 June 2023). "Tuamarino and 'the calm beyond' the Wairau Affray". Stuff.
  23. ↑ Brooks, C (1996). Tua Marina School 125th anniversary, 1871-1996. Tua Marina School 125th Anniversary Committee – via WorldCat.
  24. ↑ "Duggan, Eileen May 1894 – 1972". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
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