affiliated with Ngāi Tamawhariua. In October 2020, the Government committed $4,871,246 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade Te Rangihouhiri Marae and 11 other Ngāti Awa marae, creating 23 jobs. There is also two marae sites on neighbouring Rangiwaea Island belonging to Ngāi Te Rangi hapū. Rangiwaea Marae and its meeting house, Te Haka a Te Tupere, are a meeting place for Ngāi Tauwhao. The Oponui Marae site, which was dismantled between the 1980s and 2007, was traditionally a meeting place for Te Ngare. Demographics Matakana Island covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Matakana Island had a population of 183 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 72 people (−28.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 42 people (−18.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 78 households, comprising 87 males and 96 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.91 males per female. The median age was 40.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 33 people (18.0%) aged under 15 years, 33 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 81 (44.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 36 (19.7%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 13.1% European/Pākehā, 95.1% Māori, and 1.6% Pacific peoples. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 3.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 27.9% had no religion, 32.8% were Christian, 27.9% had Māori religious beliefs and 1.6% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 18 (12.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 33 (22.0%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $20,100, compared with $31,800 nationally. 6 people (4.0%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 54 (36.0%) people were employed full-time, 36 (24.0%) were part-time, and 3 (2.0%) were unemployed. Geography The island protects the entrance to the Tauranga harbour and stretches from Bowentown to Mount Maunganui. Matakana Island is largely covered with pine trees although some land is cleared for the residents. Matakana Island has a relatively small population density of 4.2, though still more than the West Coast(1.3 as of the 2006 Census). The island is the third largest by area associated with the North Island, or the fifteenth largest within New Zealand waters. The