{{Short description|Community in Waikato Region, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Marokopa | map_caption = | mapsize = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 9 | image_skyline = Marokopa from the lookout.jpg | image_caption = A view of Marokopa from Mangatoa Road | imagesize = | pushpin_map = | motto = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[New Zealand]] | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name1 = [[Waikato]] region | subdivision_name2 = [[Waitomo District]] | subdivision_type3 = Ward | subdivision_name3 = Waitomo Rural Ward | leader_title = Territorial Authority | leader_name = [[Waitomo District Council]] | leader_title1 = Regional council | leader_name1 = [[Waikato Regional Council]] | leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Waitomo]] | leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Waitomo District Mayor|y}} | leader_title3 = [[Taranaki-King Country|Taranaki-King Country MP]] | leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Taranaki-King Country MP|y}} | leader_title4 = [[Hauraki-Waikato|Hauraki-Waikato MP]] | leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Hauraki-Waikato MP|y}} | seat_type = [[New Zealand electorates|Electorates]] | seat = {{ubl|[[Taranaki-King Country]]|[[Te Tai Hauāuru]] ([[Māori electorates|Māori]])}} | total_type = Territorial <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> | settlement_type = Rural settlement <!-- e.g. Town, Village, City, etc.--> | pushpin_map_caption = | utc_offset_DST = +13 | website = | area_code = | postal_code = | postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> | coordinates = {{coord|-38.305|174.721|display=inline,title}} | timezone_DST = NZDT | pushpin_label_position = bottom | utc_offset = +12 | timezone = [[Time in New Zealand|NZST]] | area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> | area_total_km2 = 1.67 | population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} | population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} | population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Marokopa|y}} | population_density_km2 = auto | elevation_m = | pushpin_mapsize = | official_name = }}
'''Marokopa''' is a rural community in [[Waitomo District]] and [[Waikato]] region of New Zealand. It is located close to the coast between [[Awakino]] and [[Kawhia Harbour]]. The [[meshblock]] includes the coastal township of Marokopa, at the mouth of the [[Marokopa River]], and the south side of the small village of Awamarino, about {{Convert|10|km||abbr=on}} upstream.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/People%20and%20households/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx|title=2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place|website=archive.stats.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10|archive-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403173441/http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/People%20and%20households/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The area was settled by [[forestry]] workers in the 19th century. It has been predominantly a farming locale since the early 20th century. In 1911 a large dairy factory was built,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19110902.2.21|title=Marokopa Opening of Dairy Factory King Country Chronicle|date=2 September 1911|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> which mainly made butter which was shipped to [[Auckland]]. The Awamarino factory was enlarged in 1932,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19321119.2.25|title=New Zealand Herald, Higher Dairy Output – The Marokopa Factory|date=19 November 1932|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> but closed in 1937.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370710.2.30|title=Butter Recovers New Zealand Herald|date=10 July 1937|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> A telephone link to [[Te Kūiti]] was completed in 1914<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19140401.2.20|title=King Country Chronicle, TELEPHONE EXTENSION. Marokopa linked up|date=1 April 1914|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> and a [[Share taxi#New Zealand|service car]]<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19250103.2.13|title=King Country Roads. Auckland Star|date=3 January 1925|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> ran on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1920.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19200113.2.37|title=Te Kuiti Mail Notices. King Country Chronicle|date=13 January 1920|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> The town also had a post office,<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19070801.2.95|title=New Zealand Herald, Kawhia|date=1 August 1907|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> a [[Flax in New Zealand#Flax mills|flaxmill]]<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19080326.2.104|title=New Zealand Herald, Country News|date=26 March 1908|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> and a school (1908<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19070518.2.93|title=New Zealand Herald, NEWS FROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS|date=18 May 1907|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref>-1982).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ketekingcountry.peoplesnetworknz.info/site/topics/show/46-schools-in-the-waitomo-district|title=Schools in the Waitomo District|last=Marsh|first=Dawn|website=ketekingcountry.peoplesnetworknz.info|language=en|access-date=2019-03-10|archive-date=9 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809022031/http://ketekingcountry.peoplesnetworknz.info/site/topics/show/46-schools-in-the-waitomo-district|url-status=dead}}</ref> The nearest school is now [[Te Anga#Education|Piripiri]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ero.govt.nz/review-reports/piripiri-school-20-10-2016/|title=Piripiri School – 20/10/2016|website=Education Review Office|language=en-NZ|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> {{Convert|20|km||abbr=on}} upstream.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Marokopa/Piripiri+School+2703+Te+Anga+Rd,+Te+Anga+3988/@-38.2778687,174.7286524,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d1345cddc96d08f:0x500ef6143a2e0a0!2m2!1d174.7213875!2d-38.3021131!1m5!1m1!1s0x6d6cb9aa4d55abd7:0x3290c4fd046bd2cb!2m2!1d174.875848!2d-38.2548449!3e0|title=Marokopa to Piripiri School|website=Google maps|language=en|access-date=2019-03-10}}</ref> There is a campground.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.waitomo.govt.nz/community-service/marokopa-holiday-park/|title=Marokopa Holiday Park {{!}} Waitomo District Council|website=www.waitomo.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-10|archive-date=21 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121224736/http://waitomo.govt.nz/community-service/marokopa-holiday-park/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Demographics == Statistics New Zealand describes Marokopa as a rural settlement, which covers {{Convert|1.67|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Urban Rural 2023 (generalised)|access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Marokopa|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Marokopa|y}}|R}}/1.67|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. The settlement is part of the larger [[Taharoa#Herangi statistical area|Herangi statistical area]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}</ref>
{{Historical populations|2013|24|2018|24|2023|42|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2023"/>}} [[File:Marokopa.jpg|thumb|Marokopa from Mangatoa Rd, showing the mouth of the Marokopa River, the marae on the north bank and 418m Te Iringa beyond]] Marokopa had a population of 42 in the [[2023 New Zealand census]], an increase of 18 people (75.0%) since the [[2018 New Zealand census|2018 census]], and an increase of 18 people (75.0%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]]. There were 18 males and 21 females in 18 dwellings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.1433.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}}</ref> The median age was 63.8 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3 people (7.1%) aged under 15 years, none aged 15 to 29, 18 (42.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 21 (50.0%) aged 65 or older.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 78.6% [[European New Zealanders|European]] ([[Pākehā]]), and 28.6% [[Māori people|Māori]]. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 7.1%, and other languages by 7.1%. The percentage of people born overseas was 7.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
The sole religious affiliation given was 42.9% [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]]. People who answered that they had [[Irreligion in New Zealand|no religion]] were 42.9%, and 7.1% of people did not answer the census question.<ref name="Census 2023"/>
Of those at least 15 years old, 21 (53.8%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 15 (38.5%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $23,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 3 people (7.7%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 6 (15.4%) full-time and 6 (15.4%) part-time.<ref name="Census 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.1433.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Marokopa (1433)}}</ref> [[File:Monotis_fossil_shells_-_Kiritehere_beach.jpg|thumb|Monotis fossil shells – Kiritehere beach]]
== Geology == The coast between Marokopa and Kiritehere is accessible at low tide.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19071004.2.15|title=Back-Block Roads. King Country Chronicle|date=4 October 1907|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref> Along the few kilometres,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz52850/Kiritehere-Beach/|title=Kiritehere Beach, Waikato|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|access-date=2019-03-11}}</ref> a succession of [[Late Triassic]] and [[Jurassic]] rocks are exposed. They are part of the western limb of the Kawhia [[Syncline]], which extends north to the [[Hakarimata Range#Geology|Hakarimatas]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |title=Mesozoic stratigraphy of the Marokopa area|last=MacFarlan|first=D. A. B. |journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |volume=41 |issue=3 |date=1998|doi=10.1080/00288306.1998.9514812|doi-access=free}}</ref> and have been described as the best Triassic sequence in the North Island.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.boffamiskell.co.nz/downloads/publications/Waikato_Regional_Coastal_Environment_20160420_interactive.pdf|title=Natural Character Study of the Waikato Coastal Environment|last=Boffa Miskell|date=March 2016}}{{Dead link|date=November 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The rocks are youngest at Marokopa ([[New Zealand geologic time scale#Jurassic Period|Aratauran]]) and oldest to the south of Kiritehere ([[New Zealand geologic time scale#Triassic Period|Otapirian]]), where there is a large bed of monotis, one of the index fossils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://db.gsnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/FT6-NZ-Jurassic-v3.pdf|title=Jurassic sequences of the North Island. Field Trip Guides. Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 151B|vauthors=Campbell HJ, Raine JI, MacFarlan DA, Hudson N|date=2018|page=34|access-date=13 March 2019|archive-date=17 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117034031/https://db.gsnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/FT6-NZ-Jurassic-v3.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Marae==
Marokopa Marae and Miromiro i te Pō meeting house are a meeting ground for the local [[Ngāti Maniapoto]] [[hapū]] of [[Ngāti Kinohaku]], [[Te Kanawa (Maniapoto)|Te Kanawa]] and [[Peehi]].<ref name="tkmentry">{{cite web|title=Te Kāhui Māngai directory|url= http://www.tkm.govt.nz/ |website=tkm.govt.nz|publisher=[[Te Puni Kōkiri]]}}</ref><ref name="maorimaps">{{cite web |title=Māori Maps |url=https://maorimaps.com/map |website=maorimaps.com |publisher=Te Potiki National Trust}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Phillips family disappearances]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Waitomo District}}
[[Category:Populated places in Waikato]] [[Category:Waitomo District]]