about 140,000 years and started more than a million years ago. In pre-European times, the area was densely forested by trees such as kauri, mataī and tawa, and was a home for birds such as kererū, tui, kākā and kiwi. Demographics Kaimai statistical area, which does not include the entire range, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Kaimai had a population of 2,028 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 276 people (15.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 327 people (19.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 678 households, comprising 1,026 males and 1,005 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 40.8 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 426 people (21.0%) aged under 15 years, 312 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,062 (52.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 225 (11.1%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 94.4% European/Pākehā, 12.4% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 1.3% Asian, and 2.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 15.1, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 60.2% had no religion, 29.7% were Christian, 0.6% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.1% were Buddhist and 0.9% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 273 (17.0%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 252 (15.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 309 people (19.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 915 (57.1%) people were employed full-time, 276 (17.2%) were part-time, and 42 (2.6%) were unemployed. Kaimai Tunnel The Kaimai Railway Tunnel runs for nearly nine kilometres under the range, making it the longest tunnel in New Zealand. Construction of the tunnel started from both sides of the range in 1969: the headings met in 1976 and the tunnel opened on 12 September 1978. The Kaimai Range and this tunnel led to a Silver Fern railcar service between Auckland and Tauranga being named the Kaimai Express. This service operated from 1991 until 2001. A peak of the Kaimai directly above the tunnel, previously unnamed, was named Stokes Peak in 2010 in honour of geographer Evelyn Stokes. Flight 441 disaster At approximately 9:09