Rapaura

Rapaura
Vineyard at Rapaura
Vineyard at Rapaura
Interactive map of Rapaura
Coordinates: 41°28′19″S 173°54′6″E / 41.47194°S 173.90167°E / -41.47194; 173.90167
CountryNew Zealand
RegionMarlborough
Ward
  • Wairau-Awatere General Ward
  • Marlborough Māori Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityMarlborough District Council
 • Marlborough District MayorNadine Taylor
 • Kaikōura MPStuart Smith
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
 • Total
38.39 km2 (14.82 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total
456
 • Density11.9/km2 (30.8/sq mi)

Rapaura is a locality northwest of Blenheim, New Zealand. The Wairau River flows past to the north. Spring Creek lies to the east.

Rapaura consists of a church and a school. It also has high quality land for growing grapes.

Demographics

Rapaura locality covers 38.39 km2 (14.82 sq mi). It is part of the larger Lower Wairau statistical area.

Historical population for Rapaura
YearPop.±% p.a.
2006441—    
2013435−0.20%
2018486+2.24%
2023456−1.27%
Source:

Rapaura had a population of 456 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 30 people (−6.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 21 people (4.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 237 males and 222 females in 183 dwellings. 1.3% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 69 people (15.1%) aged under 15 years, 60 (13.2%) aged 15 to 29, 225 (49.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 102 (22.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 94.1% European (Pākehā); 10.5% Māori; 1.3% Pasifika; 2.0% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.3% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.0%, Māori by 2.0%, Samoan by 0.7%, and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 0.7% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 21.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 29.6% Christian, 0.7% Hindu, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% Buddhist, 0.7% New Age, 0.7% Jewish, and 1.3% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.5%, and 7.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (24.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 210 (54.3%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 81 (20.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 72 people (18.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 204 (52.7%) full-time, 81 (20.9%) part-time, and 3 (0.8%) unemployed.

Lower Wairau statistical area

Lower Wairau statistical area, which also includes Wairau Bar, covers 116.67 km2 (45.05 sq mi). Lower Wairau had an estimated population of 1,270 as of June 2025, with a population density of 10.9 people per km2.

Historical population for Lower Wairau
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,176—    
20131,167−0.11%
20181,212+0.76%
20231,209−0.05%
Source:

Lower Wairau had a population of 1,209 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−0.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 42 people (3.6%) since the 2013 census. There were 621 males, 585 females, and 3 people of other genders in 483 dwellings. 2.5% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 49.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 195 people (16.1%) aged under 15 years, 135 (11.2%) aged 15 to 29, 609 (50.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 270 (22.3%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 90.6% European (Pākehā); 11.9% Māori; 1.0% Pasifika; 2.2% Asian; 1.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 97.5%, Māori by 3.0%, Samoan by 0.2%, and other languages by 7.2%. No language could be spoken by 1.2% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.2%. The percentage of people born overseas was 16.1, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 29.3% Christian, 0.2% Hindu, 0.2% Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, 0.2% Jewish, and 1.2% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 60.0%, and 8.2% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 204 (20.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 588 (58.0%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 222 (21.9%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $50,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 183 people (18.0%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 534 (52.7%) full-time, 213 (21.0%) part-time, and 6 (0.6%) unemployed.

Education

Rapaura School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a roll of 107 students (as of July 2026). The school opened in 1862.

Notes

  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". Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 18 May 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. 7023308, 7023317 and 7023318. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Peter Dowling, ed. (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. map 60. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.
  7. ↑ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. map 139. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  8. ↑ "Geographic Boundary Viewer". Stats NZ. Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023.
  9. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. 7023308, 7023317 and 7023318.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  13. 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. Lower Wairau (307200). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  14. ↑ "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Lower Wairau (307200). 2018 Census place summary: Lower Wairau
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Rapaura School - Education Counts". www.educationcounts.govt.nz.
  18. ↑ "Our School - History of Rapaura School". Rapaura School. Retrieved 20 August 2021.