Motukarara

Motukarara
Locality
Rural road near Motukarara
Rural road near Motukarara
Interactive map of Motukarara
Coordinates: 43°43′30″S 172°34′52″E / 43.725°S 172.581°E / -43.725; 172.581
CountryNew Zealand
IslandSouth Island
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authoritySelwyn District
WardEllesmere
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authoritySelwyn District Council
 • Regional councilEnvironment Canterbury
 • Mayor of SelwynLydia Gliddon
 • Selwyn MPNicola Grigg
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total
24.68 km2 (9.53 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total
198
 • Density8.02/km2 (20.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
7672
Area code03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Motukarara is a locality to the northeast of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora in the Selwyn District of New Zealand. State Highway 75 passes through the centre of the village, connecting Christchurch with Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula. The Little River Branch, which operated between 1886 and 1962, ran through Motukarara, and is now a shared walkway and cycleway.

Motukarara Racecourse is a grass harness racing track operated by the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club.

Greenpark Huts was a small village on the shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora. The land belongs to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, which gave notice in 2020 it did not intend to renew leases when they expire on 30 June 2024, due to limited drinking water, poor wastewater systems and sea level rise. The final date was 30 June 2025, with most residents signing over their huts to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to avoid having to pay clearance fees.

Demographics

Motukarara locality covers 24.68 km2 (9.53 sq mi). It is part of the Motukarara statistical area.

Historical population for the locality
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006159—    
2013207+3.84%
2018177−3.08%
2023198+2.27%
Source:

The locality had a population of 198 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 21 people (11.9%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 9 people (−4.3%) since the 2013 census. There were 99 males and 99 females in 78 dwellings. 4.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 42.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 39 people (19.7%) aged under 15 years, 24 (12.1%) aged 15 to 29, 108 (54.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 24 (12.1%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.9% European (Pākehā), 7.6% Māori, 3.0% Pasifika, and 6.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.5%, Māori by 1.5%, and other languages by 6.1%. No language could be spoken by 1.5% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 30.3% Christian, 1.5% New Age, and 1.5% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 62.1%, and 4.5% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 36 (22.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 93 (58.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 33 (20.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $49,600, compared with $41,500 nationally. 15 people (9.4%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 105 (66.0%) full-time, 24 (15.1%) part-time, and 3 (1.9%) unemployed.

Motukarara statistical area

Motukarara statistical area includes Greenpark and Greenpark Huts. It covers 64.67 km2 (24.97 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 660 as of June 2025, with a population density of 10.2 people per km2.

Historical population for the statistical area
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006588—    
2013693+2.37%
2018612−2.46%
2023642+0.96%
Source:
Near Motukarara

Motukarara statistical area had a population of 642 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 30 people (4.9%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 51 people (−7.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 330 males and 312 females in 255 dwellings. 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 43.5 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 117 people (18.2%) aged under 15 years, 96 (15.0%) aged 15 to 29, 327 (50.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 99 (15.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 93.0% European (Pākehā); 8.4% Māori; 1.9% Pasifika; 3.7% Asian; 0.5% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.2%, Māori by 0.9%, Samoan by 0.5%, and other languages by 10.3%. No language could be spoken by 2.3% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 1.4%. The percentage of people born overseas was 18.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 32.7% Christian, 0.9% Hindu, 0.5% New Age, and 1.9% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 55.6%, and 8.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 138 (26.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 297 (56.6%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 90 (17.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $49,800, compared with $41,500 nationally. 75 people (14.3%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 321 (61.1%) full-time, 96 (18.3%) part-time, and 9 (1.7%) unemployed.

References

  1. ↑ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Selwyn - Official Result". www.electionresults.govt.nz. Electoral Commission. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Te Tai Tonga – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 1 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. 7027016. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Harriss, Gavin (July 2021). Motukarara, Canterbury (Map). NZ Topo Map.
  7. ↑ "Little River". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Little River Rail Trail". Christchurch to Little River Rail Trail Trust. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "The Trots at Mot". Banks Peninsula Trotting Club. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "10,000 at Motukarara races". The Press. 31 December 2012.
  11. ↑ Law, Tina (29 August 2020). "Ngāi Tahu orders removal of historic lakeside baches near Christchurch". Stuff.
  12. ↑ Allott, Amber (31 December 2022). "In a tiny lakeside village, the clock is ticking for residents to vacate before it's demolished". The Press.
  13. ↑ Jacobs, Maxine (30 June 2025). "The bitter end: This is what remains of the Greenpark Huts". The Press.
  14. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  15. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7027016.
  16. ↑ "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.
  17. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 1 October 2026.
  18. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  19. 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. Motukarara (336400). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Motukarara (336400). 2018 Census place summary: Motukarara
  21. ↑ "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.

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