Maruia is a locality in the West Coast region of New Zealand. The Shenandoah Highway (State Highway 65) passes through it. Murchison is 65 km north, the Lewis Pass is 39 km to the south-east, and Reefton is 63 km west by road. The Maruia River flows past to the west.[1][2]

Maruia
Maruia is located in West Coast
Maruia
Maruia
Coordinates: 42°11′20″S 172°13′13″E / 42.18889°S 172.22028°E / -42.18889; 172.22028
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictBuller District
ElectoratesWest Coast-Tasman
Te Tai Tonga
Population
 (2013)
 • Total183
Upper Maruia Valley, West Coast, New Zealand, 1976

According to the 2013 New Zealand census, Maruia and its surrounds have a population of 183, an increase of 9 people since the 2006 census. There were 96 males and 87 females.[3]

The principal activity is dairy farming. The community celebrated 100 years of settlement in the Maruia Valley in 2005.[4] The Maruia Valley inspired the environmental lobby group, the Maruia Society (later changing its name to the Ecologic Foundation) and the Maruia Mail Order Catalogue, organised by the New Zealand Nature Company.

Education

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Maruia School, a coeducational full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 16 students as of August 2024,[5][6] dates from 1926.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 64. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  2. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 150. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. ^ 2013 Census QuickStats about a place  : Maruia
  4. ^ a b "Education Review Report: Maruia School". Education Review Office. June 2005.
  5. ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  6. ^ Education Counts: Maruia School