[3][4] The area is changing from farmland to lifestyle blocks.

[6] Matarau is in two SA1 statistical areas which cover 15.31 km2 (5.91 sq mi).

The results were 92.9% European (Pākehā); 22.6% Māori; 5.2% Pasifika; 1.9% Asian; 1.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 2.6% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

The percentage of people born overseas was 10.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Of those at least 15 years old, 45 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 243 (66.9%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 63 (17.4%) people exclusively held high school qualifications.

The results were 90.8% European (Pākehā); 20.7% Māori; 2.5% Pasifika; 3.2% Asian; 0.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.0% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander".

The percentage of people born overseas was 14.2, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Of those at least 15 years old, 357 (15.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 1,425 (61.5%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 396 (17.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications.